Danger driver crashed car into wall

Sparks and smoke were seen pouring from a silver Volkswagen Golf as it careered along several roads in Blairgowrie.

The vehicle narrowly missed a lorry before crashing through a garden wall and colliding with a lampost in Balmoral Road.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that the car, with 20-year-old David Burke at the wheel, had earlier made gouge marks along one of the roads because the rear nearside wheel was damaged and it had only a“partial tyre remaining.”

The front nearside tyre was also completely devoid of tread and two of the wheel trims were damaged.

The catalogue of events led to Burke, of Davie Park Place, Blairgowrie, being banned for 32 months after he admitted driving dangerously in Ferguson Park Road and Balmoral Road on July 8 last year.

He was also ordered to complete 135 hours of unpaid work after it emerged he had no insurance or licence for the vehicle.

In addition, he will be supervised for 18 months by a social worker and will have to undergo alcohol treatment.

Sheriff Gillian Wade told him her“first inclination”had been to impose a custodial sentence but she was prepared to try a Community Payback Order as a direct alternative.

Depute fiscal Claire Kennedy said police were on mobile patrol about 9am when they received a report about the car.

“It was being driven erratically and the tyres weren’t fit for use,” she explained.

They spoke to a member of the public who told then to“follow the wheel scratches which were on the road.”

The Golf was discovered a short distance away, where it had been parked. One of the tyres was said to be“in pieces”and the wheel trim was damaged.

The accused wasn’t traced at that point but half an hour later a lorry driver saw the car being driven again in Balmoral Road.

“The vehicle appeared uneven on the road and there was smoke coming from it,”stated the fiscal.

It was later found in Kirkton Road“extensively damaged”.

The accused was identified from police photographs and was later arrested.

Solicitor David Holmes described his client as“immature.”

A detailed background report referred to problems he had experienced which had led to anxiety and depression.

Imposing the unpaid work, Sheriff Wade noted Burke had been banned for 21 months in 2014 and hadn’t appeared to have“learned his lesson.”