Young driver earns herself road ban
A rookie driver who crashed her mum’s motor while out for a spin has been handed a hefty fine and banned from the roads.
Zoe McLellan, 22, only had a provisional licence when she pranged her mother’s Peugeot 207 after hitting a neighbour’s Mazda 6.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard McLellan had been parking at her mum’s house early in the morning when she struck the motor.
She created such a loud bang that she alerted a neighbour, who witnessed her emerging from the driver’s seat.
Fiscal depute Margaret McCallum told the court: “On the afternoon of March 18, a witness observed a silver Mazda parked at the locus. All was in order. There was no damage to the rear or nearside bumper.
“At around 6.30am the following morning, the witness was at his home address when he was woken by a loud MOTION EMOTION bang and looked out of his bedroom window.
“He observed a grey Peugeot resting against a silver Mazda. He saw a young female, who was the accused, coming out of the driver’s side door.
“She made her way from the car and headed towards a home address.”
The court heard the witness spoke to the Mazda’s owner who reported the smash to police later that morning.
Cops who attended the accident at Sempill Avenue, Erskine, on March 19 last year then traced the registered keeper of the Peugeot, who explained it was her daughter who had been driving.
And, when questioned by police, McLellan replied: “I am going through a hard time. I am sorry. It will never happen again.”
This week, McLellan appeared in court, where she admitted charges of driving without holding a proper licence, driving without insurance and driving without due care and attention or reasonable consideration, when she collided with the Mazda.
Defence agent Bob Kerr said the single mum, formerly of McKerrell Street, Paisley, was now living at supported accommodation at the town’s Argyle Street, having had recently split from her partner, and had been “going through difficulties”.
He said: “She had been driving her mother’s car. She accepted responsibilty for the matter and pleaded guilty to the offence.
“She is a young woman. The mother of a four-year-old son who recently split from her partner.
“She has been going through difficulties, but is determined to overcome them.”
Sheriff Susan Sinclair handed McLellan a £350 fine for the driving offences and banned her from driving or obtaining a licence for six months.
She has been going through difficulties
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