Alleged driving and Covid lockdown offences

Three Dundee men face a charge of breaking lockdown in an alleged Angus dangerous driving incident.

They are accused of being in a car which prosecutors say sped through Brechin with one of them at the wheel and failed to stop for police , before smashing into a tree.

It is alleged to have happened on April 6, weeks in to the nationwide lockdown.

Stephen Petrie, 24, of Lauderdale Avenue; Cameron Clark, 27, of Dalmahoy Drive; and James Jones, 22, from Balgowan Avenue, have been charged under the Health Protection (Corona virus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 in a case which called at Forfar Sheriff Court yesterday.

Petrie faces charges including taking and driving away a vehicle from Lauderdale Avenue in Dundee without permission.

He is accused of failing to stop for police in River Street, Brechin, and driving dangerously and at excessive speed.

T he charge states Petri et urn ed the headlights off when they should have been in use, and lost control at a junction, causing the vehicle to drift to the other side of the road, narrowly avoiding a collision with a car.

He is then said to have hit a road sign and a tree, and left the car while it was moving.

Petrie is also accused of not having insurance or an appropriate licence, and breaking the lockdown law by failing to stay in his home without a reasonable excuse.

Jones and Clark are accused of breaching the Covid legislation, and letting themselves be carried in the car knowing it was taken without consent.

Sheriff Derek Reekie continued the case until December 17 when all three are expected to appear in court.