Shinty photographer banned for dangerous driving after cup final

A 46-YEAR-old man lost his driving licence for a year after appearing before Oban Sheriff Court on Monday.

Paul Paterson, of 2 Manor Way, Tighnabruaich, denied driving in a dangerous, aggressive and intimidating manner on the A85 between Cruachan Power Station and Loch Awe village on August 22 last year, the day of the shinty Macaulay Cup Final.

Paterson had been photographing the event and was driving home.

Paterson pleaded not guilty to speeding up when being overtaken, leaving insufficient space for the overtaking car to return to the correct side of the road and then driving excessively close to the vehicle, repeatedly sounding his car horn, flashing the headlights and attempting to overtake when inappropriate or unsafe.

The driver of the other car and his girlfriend were so concerned for their safety that she called the police. The driver claimed Paterson had used his mobile phone while driving to take a picture of their car. Their ordeal only stopped when they turned off the A85 onto the road to Inveraray and Paterson overtook them and sped off.

But David Watt, Paterson’s defence agent challenged this version, telling the witness: ‘Your complaint is a scheme to put the blame on Mr Paterson when actually the blame is on you for driving dangerously.’

Paterson said the driver overtook him on double white lines and sounding his horn and flashing lights were to warn the other driver only.

The driver’s girlfriend said in her evidence that the overtaking happened on double white lines but had been safe, adding: ‘It was the first time I have ever phoned the police. He was tailgating us.’

Paterson, a disabled driver who suffers from osteoarthritis along with other health issues, told Sheriff Ruth Anderson QC that there was an aid attached to the steering wheel of his car which could have been mistaken for a camera. He denied all offences.

But Sheriff Anderson said: ‘I am satisfied your driving did fall below the standard expected.’

Finding him guilty, she fined Paterson £250 and with six penalty points already on his driving licence he was disqualified from driving for year and ordered to re-sit the extended test at the end of his ban.