Crash driver wasted police time

Sheriff Patrick Hughes had words for an Islay man whom he fined a total of £900 and added five penalty points to his licence.

Ross Smith, aged 25, of 3 Hawthorn Lane, Bowmore, Islay, admitted driving without due care and attention and failing to report an accident within 24 hours when he appeared before Campbeltown Sheriff Court last week.

‘Your failure to report this matter is particularly serious; police officers had to extend their shift and search for you,’ said the sheriff, adding: ‘Your failure to report wasted police time and was a loss to the public purse.’

Procurator fiscal depute David Glancy said Smith’s vehicle had left the road and collided with a garden fence on December 30 2018, near to Old Smiddy, Bridgend.

‘Police officers were just about to come off duty when they received a message that a single-vehicle accident had happened,’ Mr Glancy said. ‘At the scene they found a silver Volkswagen Golf extensively damaged and its airbags deployed with blood on the door.’

Concerned for the driver’s safety, the officers searched the area, checked the ownership of the car and called at both of Smith’s parents’ homes.

The fiscal added that neither parent seemed ‘unduly concerned’. When Smith presented himself at the Bowmore Police

Station and was charged, he replied: ‘I have taken that corner at that speed before but that night I lost control of it.’

Defence agent Ruben Murdanaigum said Smith had suffered mild concussion during the incident. He also produced photographs to prove Smith had repaired the fence.