Driver with no licence was caught out as he tried to ‘assist police’
Dad claimed he was moving car to help cops probing assault
A Paisley man who drove a car “under the nose of police” with no licence has been banned from driving.
Connor Gallagher, 27, drove a car that didn’t belong to him with no insurance and no licence in front of a number of police officers on December 20, 2018.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard police officers where in attendance at the town’s Dundonald Road at the junction of Renfrew Road, Gallowhill, in relation to a separate matter around 10pm.
The Procurator Fiscal told the court: “Officers observed Gallagher driving when he accelerated harshly causing the car’s wheels to spin.
“Gallagher made off on to Renfrew Road where he took the corner too quickly causing the wheels to further spin.
“At the time, there was light rain causing the road to be wet.
“Police pursued Gallagher and he stopped the vehicle.
“Cops spoke with Gallagher and carried out checks which showed that he only had a provisional license and that he had no insurance for the car.
“He made no reply when being cautioned and charged.”
Defence agent Mr Nicholson said that Gallagher regrets his conduct but he claims he was trying to “assist police by moving the car that was blocking the road whilst police dealt with a separate incident that they were attending on Renfrew Road.”
The incident in which police were attending was a serious assault and Mr Nicholson explained: “Gallagher’s friend’s father was the subject of assault with a weapon in the area. He and his friend were present as was a large number of police officers.
“The car was blocking the road and so he thought he would be helping by driving it around the corner.
“At the time he thought he was assisting as there was a number of police attending, but in fact he was actually hindering them.”
Nicholson explained that the car didn’t belong to Gallagher, he was simply trying to move it away from the ongoing incident.
Court heard Gallagher is unemployed and lives with his partner and two young children.
He added that Gallagher’s partner is also pregnant, and while he was standing in the dock she was attending her 12-week scan.
Mr Nicholson told the court that Gallagher is currently supported financially by his mother.
Sheriff Mohan said: “What’s plain to me is there is more going on here than what meets the eye.
“You drove the car under the nose of the police with no full licence and no insurance.”
Gallagher was disqualified from driving for four months and given 100 hours of unpaid work to complete within six months.