The decision to have an impromptu driving lesson proved to be a costly mistake for a Perth teenager.
Such was Greig Gorrie’s inexperience that he ended up writing off his mother’s car after taking a corner too fast and colliding with a bridge parapet.
Full details of his misadventures on July 12 were disclosed as he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court.
The 19-year-old had travelled from his Oakbank home, heading several miles out of town towards Dunning where he was spotted by several other motorists who were concerned about his driving.
Depute fiscal Nicola Mannison told the court: “The witnesses were driving along various country roads and were heading east towards Perth.
“They were travelling up a steep incline and had negotiated a variety of bends,
“They saw the accused travelling west and felt that he was driving a little too fast.
“Moments later, they heard tyres screeching and a big bang.”
At this point, the car being driven by Gorrie had struck a wall on the grass verge before continuing another 75 yards down the road and hitting a nearby bridge.
The teenager escaped with just bruising to one of his legs, while his shocked passenger was also unharmed.
Ms Mannison added: “Police and ambulance staff attended and after asking the accused who was driving, they were told that he was the driver and he didn’t have insurance.
“After further checks were made, it also appeared that the accused only had a provisional licence.”
Defence agent John McLaughlin told the court that his client had decided to take the car in order to practice his skills in a “moment of stupidity”.
“He took the corner a bit too fast and the car, which was valued at £6700, was written off.
“It was his mother’s car and the air was blue when he returned home.”
The solicitor added that Gorrie was currently paying for the cost of a new car and that his father had taken control of his finances.
Gorrie, of Viewlands Road West admitted that on July 12, on the B9112 Perth to Dunning road, near to Sauchie Farm, Aberdalgie he drove a car without insurance and without the supervision of a qualified driver.
He also admitted that, on the same date and at the same location, he drove without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road by failing to negotiate a left hand bend, striking a wall and bridge parapet which resulted in both he and his passenger receiving injuries and the car being damaged.
Sheriff Michael Fletcher endorsed Gorrie’s licence with eight penalty points and fined the accused £400.