Danger driver was web star
Horrendous driving by hero of viral video
A good samaritan who picked up a hungry hitchhiker has been locked up for eight months for dangerous driving.
James McCulloch hit the headlines after a he posted a clip of himself helping hitchhiker Quentin Henderson in Stirling last month.
The Englishman had been hillwalking in Orkney before getting lost and running out of cash but was treated to a fish supper, a can of Irn-Bru and a train ticket home by McCulloch.
The comical banter between the two went viral but McCulloch, from Newlandsmuir, found himself on the wrong side of the law when he admitted a charge of dangerous driving on June 14 during an incident on Glasgow Road in Cambuslang and other roads in the town and in East Kilbride.
McCulloch, of Kentmere Drive, pled guilty to failing to stop for a marked police car, driving in excess of the speed limit, failing to comply with road markings, straddling the opposing carriageway, stopping suddenly and abruptly, driving without lights on an unlit carriageway and colliding with another car.
The 25-year-old also admitted driving while only holding a provisional licence and charges of driving without insurance and being in possession of cannabis resin on June 14.
At Hamilton Sheriff Court McCulloch’s lawyer said: “The report prepared is good, shows my client has good work ethic and supports his family, who are very upset and particularly disappointed.
“He understands it is difficult to deal with this in any other way other than custody.
“He has a High Court matter relating to the supply of class A drugs and he recognises this is unlikely to end well for him.”
Sheriff Vincent Smith said: “This was a horrendous piece of driving over an extensive period of time, covering a substantial distance, and is at the top end as far as seriousness is concerned.
“I also have concerns about public safety but take into account your early plea and apparent lack of previous convictions.”
On top of the eight-month jail sentence McCulloch was fined £810 and banned from driving for 36 months.
I have concerns about public safety