An Irish tennis ace has admitted causing a head-on smash in rural Kinross-shire.
Peter Corrie, who has represented his country at international tournaments, had no licence or insurance when he careered his girlfriend’s Audi into an oncoming car on the A91 Milnathort to Alloa road.
The 22-year-old, now studying to be a tennis coach at Stirling University, was originally charged with dangerous driving.
He appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and pled guilty to a reduced charge of driving without due care or attention on September 26, last year.
Corrie, who also admitted driving with only a provisional licence and no L-plates, was fined £900 and handed nine penalty points.
Sheriff William Wood told him it was fortunate nobody was hurt in the collision.
‘Licence to kill’
“Clearly you are a young man with some considerable promise, not only in a sporting sphere but also academically,” the sheriff said.
“However, this will be a sharp wake up call for you.
“I’m sure from the moment of the collision you began pondering the potential consequences.”
Sheriff Wood added: “You will appreciate that when and if you are granted a licence to drive, it is also a licence to kill – albeit within the confines of the law.
“You need to understand that when you drive a one-ton piece of metal at speed, it can have fatal consequences.
“And you are lucky in this case that no one was injured.”
The sheriff said a driving ban was unnecessary.
Saw Audi travelling at speed
The accident happened at a tight bend near Yetts O’ Muckhart.
Fiscal depute David Currie told the court: “At around 11am, a witness was driving her car westward along the Milnathort-Alloa road.
“The accused was coming the other way in a black Audi A1 which was registered and insured in his partner’s name at the time.”
The prosecutor said: “The witness approached a sharp left hand bend and travelled across a bridge.
“She could see the accused’s Audi travelling towards her at speed.
“She could see that he was struggling to negotiate the bend.
“The accused crossed the centre line marking and struck the offside of the witness’s car.”
Mr Currie said: “As a result, both cars came to a rest in the centre of the carriageway.
“All parties exited their vehicles and appeared to be uninjured.”
The court heard the two vehicles suffered extensive damage.
Police were contacted and Corrie identified himself to officers as the driver.
‘Not a risk-taker’
Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said: “Mr Corrie is not a risk taker.
“He is not someone who takes it lightly that he has had to come before the court.
“He is a student in Stirling but due to the lockdown he returned home to Ireland.
“The vast majority of his studies were online during the pandemic.
“On this day, he and others were due to attend a tennis tournament in St Andrews.
“Arrangements had been made for transport but that had fallen through.”
She said: “Mr Corrie was the only person in the group who had a provisional licence and he decided to drive the vehicle.
“But it was apparent that he was not experienced enough to negotiate this road.”
She said Corrie had used family savings to pay for the damage caused to the other car.
“He is still a student and has no income but he anticipates that he will obtain employment as a tennis coach,” she said.
Corrie, whose address was listed on court papers as University of Stirling, won the ITF junior world-ranking tournament at Windsor in 2016.
He also represented Northern Ireland at a Home Nations tournament in Glasgow.
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