A bank worker who hit 93mph in a Fife 40mph zone has just clung onto his licence.
First offender Paul Connolly was clocked by a police speed camera van at more than double the speed limit on June 17, last year, as he drove on Queensferry Road between Dunfermline and Rosyth.
The 33-year-old was pulled over and warned by officers who detected him just before midnight as he was heading to a 24-hour garage to buy food.
In the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Connolly admitted an amended charge of careless driving.
He already had three points on his license.
Solicitor Stephen Morrison said: “This is a situation which Mr Connolly totally regrets.
“He recognises the stupidity of driving at this particular speed.
“He presents as an otherwise sensible young man.
“There’s no particular reason for driving at this speed other than it was the open road and he went at this speed without thinking.
“He immediately apologised to the police.”
Mr Morrison said: “It’s fair to say he’s alive to the possibility of a disqualification.
“I can’t emphasise enough his regret.”
Mr Morrison said that banking executive Connolly could get to work in South Gyle by public transport if he was disqualified.
Sheriff Charles Lugton fined Connolly, of James Street in Dunfermline, £690 and furnished him with six penalty points.
He said: “This was far too fast. That creates a significant danger in itself.
“I hope very much that this is an isolated incident.”
Counselling offered to jury
An Angus sex attacker who raped two young girls is facing a lengthy jail-term.
Douglas McDonald struck in the 1990s when the victims were as young as two and three.
The 54-year-old had denied the sick crimes at a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
But, jurors found him guilty of raping both.
The offences occurred between 1996 and 1998 at different locations in Renfrewshire including Elderslie.
It emerged he already had a number of previous convictions including for indecent exposure.
McDonald, now of Forfar, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.
Judge Douglas Brown said: “Given the charges, there will be a substantial period of imprisonment.”
After the pervert was taken handcuffed to the cells, Judge Douglas Brown told jurors they had had to listen to “distressing” evidence.
He added: “There is a counselling service available, if you wish to use it.”
Sentencing was deferred for reports until June 27 in Lanark.
McDonald was put on the sex offenders list meantime.
Cell smash
A Perth prisoner will spend another eight months behind bars after causing more than £1,800 worth of damage to his cell.
Lee Howard went on a rampage after being told he was getting a cell-mate.
The 38-year-old also admitted at Perth Sheriff Court to having two illicit SIM cards in his cell at the Edinburgh Road jail.
Prison officers searched his quarters on April 15 and August 25 last year and found a banned SIM on each occasion.
Howard kicked off on March 2 this year in C-Hall when he was advised he would be getting a cellmate.
He started to smash up his cell and threw a TV to the floor, causing it to break.
Howard also damaged the cell toilet, sink basin, wastepipe, cell door viewer, pedestal shelving and other items.
The damage was valued at £1,860.
His solicitor James Laverty said: “He is aware that your lordship’s hands are tied and a custodial sentence is inevitable.
“It is a plea at the first opportunity.
“It’s not a situation where he was running a criminal enterprise from HMP Perth. There were various family difficulties including ill health and he had obtained the illicit SIMs simply to maintain contact with his family.
“He understands why this rule is in place. He accepts that he went against that rule.”
Sheriff William Wood imposed the prison sentence and said: “It is a considerable amount of damage and there’s no getting away from that.”
Musician cleared of razor attack
A viral music star has been cleared of assaulting a man with a cut throat razor outside a Perth hairdressers.
Brendan MacFarlane, whose acoustic songs have racked up nearly 2.5 million views on YouTube, told a jury: “I sing country songs for a living. Why would I risk my career by doing something stupid?”
The 25-year-old went on trial at Perth Sheriff Court, accused of using a knife and a razor during a confrontation on the city’s St Leonard Bridge.
The clash outside the Fade Room salon was caught on camera.
Mr MacFarlane denied allegations he behaved in a threatening or abusive way on June 10, 2021, by shouting and engaging in a stand-up fight with rival Chad Netherington.
It was further alleged he assaulted Mr Netherington while in possession of the knife and razor, by repeatedly trying to strike him with the blade and spitting at him.
Mr MacFarlane told his trial he was acting in self-defence, after Mr Netherington had first threatened him with a lock-knife.
Jurors took less than 40 minutes to find him not guilty.
Extra time for attacker
A Perth businessman who attacked police but dodged imprisonment has been given another chance to complete his unpaid work.
Peter Hodge appeared at Perth Sheriff Court to admit breaching his community payback order.
In September, Hodge was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work after jurors convicted him of assaulting officers.
However, the court heard that Hodge had only completed 76 hours so far.
Solicitor Paul Ralph said: “It hasn’t been the best of times for Mr Hodge. He and his partner have split.
“That’s causing some issues in both their personal lives.”
Sheriff William Wood re-imposed the remaining 224 hours and gave Hodge a year to complete them.
Stay home order
A Dundee motorist whose police chase ended in a stinger being deployed has had his unpaid work revoked for health reasons.
Robert Traynor hit 95mph while police chased him on the M90 and A90 in Perthshire.
He was sentenced to unpaid work for driving dangerously, but returned to the dock at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
A report from social workers identified him as being unfit for unpaid work and Sheriff Gillian Wade was told that Traynor had recently been in hospital after a “severe” asthma attack.
However his lawyer Pauline Cullerton explained Traynor was about to begin work as a bricklayer.
Sheriff Wade revoked the unpaid work order and imposed a restriction of liberty order.
Traynor must stay in his home from 9pm to 6am everyday for four months.
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