Perth car dealer gets 40-month driving ban

COURT: Sheriff finds man guilty of drink-driving, causing an accident and threatening behaviour

A director of a respected Perth car dealership has been told he should be ashamed of his growing criminal record as he found himself banned from driving for 40 months.

Christopher Dickson was found guilty following a trial last month of causing an accident that left three young children screaming in terror.

The 29-year-old was over the legal alcohol limit when he aggressively tailed a family of five through the streets of Perth.

He eventually cut in front of the group – which had been enjoying a Sunday outing – and slammed on his brakes, causing them to run into the back of his new £37,000 Mercedes.

Perth Sheriff Court heard the 29-yearold had then burst from his vehicle to scream abuse at the shaken family.

They locked themselves in their badly damaged car as he hammered on its windows and tried to haul open its doors before threatening the family with violence.

In the wake of the incident, he fled to his home in Perth.

When police officers arrived a short time later he downed a glass of wine in front of them and claimed his subsequent positive breath test was as a result of alcohol consumed after the accident.

He blamed poor driving on the part of the driver of the other car for the accident and claimed the family’s version of events was greatly exaggerated, accusing the family in court of being liars.

Dickson’s version of events was wholly dismissed by Sheriff Gillian Wade.

As he returned to the court for sentencing, it emerged it was Dickson’s fifth driving offence and his second conviction for drink-driving.

He asked for his driving ban to be restricted to enable him to keep his senior role with his family’s firm, Dicksons of Perth, but that appeal was dismissed by Sheriff Wade.

She told him: “You have now accumulated a significant number of driving offences and a significant criminal record. There is nothing to be proud of in this.

“There are now five convictions under road traffic legislation, three of which I consider serious, while this is your second conviction for drink-driving in less than 10 years.

“The minimum driving ban I could impose would be three years, but I do not consider that enough to mark your cavalier attitude towards driving and the law.”

In addition to banning Dickson from the road, the sheriff fined him £5,000.

Dickson, of Croft Park, Perth, had denied three charges relating to the incident, which took place last February, but was found guilty on all counts.

He was convicted firstly of driving on Atholl Street, Kinnoull Street, Marshall Place and Edinburgh Road in Perth with excess alcohol (35 mics). The legal limit is 22 mics.

He was also found guilty of driving without due care and attention by turning right without indicating, moving off from stationary when it was unsafe to do so and causing an oncoming vehicle to take evasive action, overtaking the vehicle before stopping suddenly in front of it and causing a collision with the other car, damaging it.

He was also convicted of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence.

The minimum driving ban I could impose would be three years, but I do not consider that enough to mark your cavalier attitude

Christopher Dickson was also fined £5,000.