A PERTHSHIRE man who endangered the lives of two children by taking a boat on a whitewater joyride was yesterday fined £100 at Perth Sheriff Court.

Alexander Thomas Gray (21), Murray Place, Stanley, admitted that on June 27 at the River Tay, near Stanley, he culpably and recklessly took two 13-year-old boys out on the river in a fishing boat, went through a series of rapids, lost control of the boat causing it to become stuck on the rocks to the danger of the children.

A major rescue mission was launched involving police, the fire brigade and RAF Kinloss.

Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson told the court Gray rowed out onto the river at 8.30pm.

“He was visiting people in the area at that time,” he said.

“He went out with the children and the dogs along the River Tay.

“He came across a boat and got into it, as did the youngsters. He proceeded to row off along the river.”

Mr Richardson continued, “Everything went quite well until the boat got stuck on rocks in the middle of the river.”

The emergency services were called but Gray did take the boat back to safety.

Solicitor John McLaughlin said Gray’s aim of an enjoyable time proved a “disaster.”

He said, “He hadn’t thought of any particular danger.

“Both children were quite excited by the incident in an enjoyable way, rather than perceiving it to be dangerous.

“If they had gone further out it would have been deeper water.

“He fully appreciates this is something that should never happen again.”

Sheriff Wood told Gray, “This was stupidity.

“The children may have been excited but they may not have appreciated the danger you put them in.”