Banned driver jailed over dash to Fife after asbestos find by son

A businessman raced through Perth despite being banned from driving after one of his sons was exposed to potentially deadly asbestos.

Alexander MacLeod was on his way to a property in Fife last month which was being worked on by his firm after being alerted to the presence of the material.

Yesterday at Perth Sheriff Court MacLeod, whose previous driving bans include a five-year stretch, was jailed for four months.

He felt he was needed at the site as he was the only one of the company’s employees who had received training in recognising and removing the material.

Despite his existing disqualification, he got behind the wheel of his van in the Black Isle and started to make the 145-mile journey towards Glenrothes.

However when he reached Perth, just 22 miles short of his destination, a police check alerted officers to the fact the vehicle did not have appropriate insurance and MacLeod was found to be disqualified. MacLeod, 46, of Munro Terrace, Rosemarkie, admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance on the M90 between Broxden Roundabout and the Craigend junction on August 6.

He was also handed a further disqualification of six years.

Solicitor David Sinclair, in mitigation, said his client was concerned for the welfare of his son, one of his four employees.

He said: “When an issue with asbestos was discovered at a property in Glenrothes he’s made the decision to drive to the property in Glenrothes, knowing that he was a disqualified driver.

“It was his son that was exposed to asbestos and there was understandably concern for his welfare.”

He added that MacLeod, who had previously been remanded, had “learned his lesson” while in custody.

However Sheriff Keith O’Mahoney opted to jail MacLeod.