Banned for steering in car being towed
Police spied Brown behind wheel
A hapless banned driver who failed to TOW the line ended up in the dock twice during a road trip.
Iain Brown, 49, was being towed by his brother when police ended up catching him behind the wheel.
The bewildered motorist did not realise he was breaking the law - and ended up nicked after only just being disqualified earlier that same day.
Sheriff John Montgomery described it as an unusual case when Brown appeared before him at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.
Brown was being pulled by his brother between Cumnock and New Cumnock on April 3 when the rope between the vehicles snapped.
The police turned up catching Brown at the helm of the Chevrolet, which was illegal. He had originally been tasked with delivering the car from Northumberland to Tarbolton for his brother.
But on the journey he broke down and police found out he didn’t have a licence.
The dad- of- three was forced to take a diversion to Dumfries Sheriff Court where he was disqualified from driving.
Bumbling Brown then continued his ill- fated road trip with his brother taking the lead in a Volkswagen Polo.
But their plan B ended in calamity when the tow strap snapped and police officers came upon him again on the A76.
Brown who has moved to Northumberland but is originally from Ayr admitted driving while disqualified.
Lawyer Peter Lockhart said: “He should never have been driving the vehicle in the first place without the appropriate licence.”
He explained how his client thought it was okay to be in control of a car while being towed while banned.
The solicitor said: “The tow broke and he had to steer it to the side of the road.
“He thought it was legal to do that if he was being towed.”
Sheriff Montgomery disqualified him for the minimum period of 12 months.
He said: “It is a rather unusual situation.”
The Sheriff added: “It would normally be more than that but there are unusual factors in this case.”
Brown was fined £ 700.