Tain managing director banned from driving for one year
A NORTH company director who drove his new BMW on the A9 at 114mph has escaped with a minimum driving ban after his lawyer argued that the impact on his firm would be "significant".
Ruaraidh Stone, managing director of Highland Fine Cheeses, Tain, was fined £400 and disqualified from driving for a year at the town’s sheriff court today.
Stone (50), Murray Street, Tain, had admitted at a previous court driving dangerously at a speed of 114mph on 11th December on the trunk road at Pitmaduthy by Kildary.
The charge stated that the stretch of road had a number of junctions leading to and from it.
Today’s court heard Stone had a previous conviction for speeding dating back two years.
Defence agent John Campbell QC said Highland Fine Cheeses was established in 1967 and employed nine full-time and five part time people.
The lawyer handed over to the court a folder of documents pertaining to the business and including three sets of accounts for the past two years.
Mr Campbell explained that Stone was responsible for the marketing and administration of the business, visiting customers and finding new markets.
Stone, the holder of an HGV as well as a motorbike licence, also took his turn at driving the firm’s milk tanker to dairy farms in Caithness and to Inverness for six-weekly maintenance checks and cleaning.
The lawyer said: "This is a solid and growing business with a good reputation across the UK. In Tain terms, it is a large employer and is dependent on the accused.
The success of the firm such as it is, is dependent on my client’s ability to be mobile."
Mr Campbell pointed out that at the time of the offence the weather was fine and the road empty.
He added: "The accused wishes to say he fully realises the foolishness of behaving in a new car this way."
Passing sentence, Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist said he had looked at the firm’s accounts which demonstrated that a driving ban would result in a significant financial impact.
Sheriff Gilchrist told Stone that he would have to pass a driving test before getting his licence back.
Speaking after the court case, Stone said: "I was very lucky and I think the word foolishness is quite appropriate. I am off to buy a bike."
