A speeder clocked at more than twice the limit through an Angus village has held on to his licence by a whisker.
Stephen McAllister was recorded at 67 miles per hour as he made his way home to Carnoustie from work in Aberdeen, but admitted to police he had put the foot down too early as he left the village of Redford on the back road from Arbroath.
The oil and gas sector worker was originally charged with dangerous driving because of the high speed, but at Forfar Sheriff Court he admitted driving carelessly at a speed of up to 67mph in a 30mph zone on the B916 on June 12 last year.
Depute fiscal Jim Eodanable said the incident happened around 6pm when officers were on speed patrol.
He said conditions on the straight road leading out of the village were good at the time and the road was empty, but the high speed took McAllister’s offence to the “highest end” of the careless driving scale.
The court heard McAllister was “contrite and helpful” when stopped by police.
McAllister’s solicitor said his 39-year-old client had encountered “significant congestion” on the main road home from Aberdeen and had taken the unfamiliar back route.
He said the police officers only had sight of McAllister’s vehicle once it had passed the junctions and residential properties in Redford.
“The only buildings south of where the police first saw him are farm buildings, the road at that point is bounded by fields,” said the agent.
“There were no other vehicles on the road and no other pedestrians, however none of that excuses the speed that Mr McAllister was at.
“He saw the national speed limit signs and accelerated before he should have. He increased his speed far too early.
“This has had a significant effect on his driving since and he is particularly concerned because his driving licence is essential. There is a previous conviction for speeding, dealt with by way of a fixed penalty, and he should have been more careful.”
Sheriff Simon Collins told McAllister, of Lingard Street, Carnoustie: “You don’t need me to tell you that the speed you were driving at was grossly excessive and in many cases would cause you to lose your licence, but in all the circumstances I am not going to do that.”
He imposed eight penalty points on the accused’s licence, taking McAllister to within a point of an automatic ban, and fined him £450.