Stupid stunt ends up with vehicle crashing into funeral home
A YOUNG Alness driver was egged on by his mates to perform a stunt trick which went "spectacularly" wrong and ended with him smashing into a building occupied by a funeral director.
Twenty-two-year old John Allison, Springfield Terrace, attempted to execute a J-turn in Mitchell Lane – a side street off the main road in his home village.
A stunt driving trick often performed in film and television shows, a J-turn is also known as a "Rockford" because of its popularity in the 1970s TV show, the Rockford Files.
Stewart MacIver, prosecuting, told Tain Sheriff Court yesterday that it involved reversing at speed while executing a 180 degree turn. The aim is to continue facing forward, without changing the direction of travel.
Unfortunately in Allison’s case, the tricky manoeuvre didn’t quite come off and his vehicle ended up colliding into the headquarters of Mairi Russell Funeral Services.
Mr MacIver said: "It appears Mr Allison was showing off to others in the vehicle by carrying out what I am told is referred to as a ‘J-turn’.
"Unfortunately things went wrong and he reversed the vehicle across the kerb and into the building referred to in the charge and smashed a large glazed window and also damaged an area of wall."
Allison, a first offender, removed the vehicle from the scene of the crash and also contacted police.
"He told them exactly what he had done and accepted that he had behaved irresponsibly," said Mr MacIver.
Allison, an apprentice engineer who works for LifeScan in Inverness, was fined £240 and given five penalty points after admitting an amended charge of careless driving on 22nd June last year.
Defence agent Rory Gowans said: "Mr Allison essentially acted in a moment of madness. He thinks he succumbed to peer pressure. He tried to execute this manoeuvre and failed spectacularly.
"The insurance has dealt with the damage caused and I think he has learned his lesson."
The lawyer said Allison needed his licence to help on his days off on his family’s small cattle farm.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Brian Cameron asked: "How stupid was that?" to which a subdued Allison replied: "Very stupid".
