Student admits fleeing scene of accident and ignoring red light

A student who caused a serious road accident in Perth city centre then ran a red light as he fled the scene has been banned from the road for seven months.

Omar Al Hooti was also fined £720 for the lapses in judgement which led to a flurry of witnesses calling the police.

Al Hooti, of Charlotte Street in Perth, admitted driving a car without due care or attention on May 15 last year. He also admitted failing to stop for a red light.

Perth Sheriff Court heard the 23-year-old had been driving along Canal Street when he emerged into the path of another motorist.

They were unable to avoid striking with enough force to spin his Audi estate around in the junction with Scott Street.

Both vehicles came to a halt but rather than stop to check on the condition of his victim, Al Hooti instead drove off.

He was seen on CCTV heading towards the junction with South Street, where he chose to ignore a red light and continued on through the junction in the face of oncoming traffic.

Witnesses then observed him overtaking stationary vehicles at the next set of traffic lights before disappearing up the city’s High Street.

The court heard various incidents were reported to the police by a number of individuals and Al Hooti was traced at his home.

Solicitor Paul Ralph said his client was studying at Scone Aerodrome.

Sheriff William Wood told him: “When you are driving through a busy city centre you need to take care.

“Clearly, had you not been driving in this careless manner then no accident would have taken place.”