Careless PC ran cars off road during driving drill

A POLICE officer ran other motorists off the road by bungling repeated bids to overtake a tractor while he was taking part in a Police Scotland driver training course, a court heard.

Constable Kevin Brown, 31, yesterday admitted driving carelessly during a 15- day specialist driving course.

Perth Sheriff Court heard how Dundee-based Brown almost caused head- on collisions with two other cars on the A822 between Crieff and Braco in Perthshire on July 29 last year.

He forced Alan Finlayson to brake and steer out of his way, while John Tannahill had to swerve onto a verge.

Fiscal depute Michael Sweeney said: ‘ Mr Tannahill said the accused looked embarrassed. He described himself as being shaken by the incident.’

Brown’s counsel, Lorraine

‘Accused looked embarrassed’

Glancy, said the incidents were ‘unfortunate’ and said the other drivers might have been more forgiving if they had known her client had been under instruction at the time.

Brown was initially charged with dangerous driving but admitted a reduced charge of careless driving minutes before a two-day trial was scheduled to start yesterday.

He admitted driving carelessly by repeatedly overtaking on the opposing carriageway and into the path of other vehicles.

Miss Glancy told the court her client, who had been driving a marked police car, had successfully completed the course – preparing officers for driving to 999 calls – a few days after the incident.

However, she added: ‘ He still faces a further investigation by the professional standards department.’

Sheriff Pino di Emidio fined Brown £320 and imposed four penalty points on his licence.