Van driver banned after destroying £600 fence

An East Ayrshire van driver who destroyed a 25-metre stretch of fencing but failed to report the accident was banned from driving for six months. Campbeltown JP court heard that Paul Alan Burns, 45, of 27 Braeside, Catrine, Mauchline was traced by police after a fragment of his number plate was found. On Monday Burns pleaded guilty to not giving his name and address to any person with reasonable grounds for requesting it. He also admitted failing to report the accident to police within 24 hours. Burns’ plea came just before a trial with four witnesses having attended. Summing up the incident, procurator fiscal depute Eoin McGinty said that at 5am on Friday May 25 Burns was heading for Campbeltown on the A83. Near to Craigruadh, Tayinloan, Burns collided with fencing valued at about £600. After the accident he returned to Glasgow. Later that day a witness found a section of Burns’ number plate and police found a match with nine vehicles from two companies. One company confirmed it had a man due in Campbeltown that day. At 5.10pm Burns reported the accident to police in Cumnock. The police said he would have passed at least two police stations as he left Argyll and Bute. Burns’ solicitor, Stephen MacSporran, said that his client is not working, has suffered depression and is on benefits. JP Margaret McDowall said: ‘The impression I get is that had Burns had not left part of his number plate he would not have gone to the police.’ Mrs McDowall ordered eight penalty points be put on Burns’ licence which, under the totting up procedure, meant he was automatically banned for six months. In addition he was fined £250.