Lunanhead driver’s ‘stupid’ prank caused £2,300 of damage

An Angus man has been ordered to pay £400 in compensation and fined £200 after causing thousands of pounds of damage in a driving prank.

Stuart Hill, 18, of Park Place, Lunanhead, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday, where he admitted pulling the handbrake of his friend’s car while it was in motion on two separate occasions between January and February last year.

The second incident, which took place on the B9134 Lunanhead to Forfar road, caused the vehicle to collide with a wall and gate before it entered a works yard, causing injury. It also resulted in extensive damage to the vehicle, as well as the wall and gate.

The court heard how both stunts caused about £2,300 of damage to the car and works yard.

Hill’s defence agent, Bob Bruce, told sheriff Kevin Veal that his client was a “law abiding citizen” but had performed what he described as “an act of stupidity”.

He told the court: “This was an act of stupidity and he has taken it seriously. He is not a man who has any criminogenic needs to satisfy.”

Sheriff Kevin Veal handed out the fine after highlighting that Hill had committed the same type of offence on two occasions.