Call for action as serial driving offender freed

Road safety campaign group calls for tougher sentencing as Angus man flouts ban

The head of a road safety campaign has called for tougher action on those who flout the law after a banned Angus driver caught behind the wheel three times in as many weeks dodged jail.

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at Brake, was responding to a case called at Forfar Sheriff Court where former Scots Guardsman James Morris was sentenced to 210 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for two years.

Morris – who has never actually held a full licence – drove while disqualified because he could not get public transport to shifts at a job in Arbroath.

But despite being collared on November 17 last year, he was caught again twice.

The case prompted Mr Harris to call for tougher action.

He said: “Those who flout the law must be dealt with severely and repeat offenders must be a particular target for action.”

A banned driver caught behind the wheel three times in as many weeks has dodged a spell behind bars.

James Morris, who has never held a full licence, drove while disqualified because he could not get public transport to shifts at a job in Arbroath.

But despite being collared on November 17 last year, he was caught again twice after police were called to investigate a report of him failing to pay for £10 of fuel at a garage a few weeks later.

At Forfar Sheriff Court the former Scots Guardsman was slammed by a sheriff for his “complete disobedience” of traffic laws, but was told sentencing powers only permitted a short-term sentence which would not reflect the seriousness of the crimes.

He has a good work ethic but at the time he was working anti-social hours and was driving to get to that

The decision meant Morris could celebrate his 26th birthday on Friday at liberty, but he must complete 210 hours of unpaid work and has been warned that any repeat is likely to land him in prison.

The case prompted Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at national road safety charity Brake, to call for tougher action against those who flout the law.

Morris, of Threewells Place, Forfar, previously admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance on November 17, November 28 and December 8 last year, and stealing fuel from a filling station in Queenswell Road, Forfar.

Defence solicitor Nick Markowski solicitor told the court Morris was a ceremonial piper in the Scots Guards, who had travelled the world for four years after joining up at 16 before he was medically discharged.

“He has a good work ethic but at the time he was working anti-social hours and was driving to get to that,” he said.

Morris must complete the 210 hours within one year and was also banned from driving for two years.