Teen crashed pal’s car into garage shop
Driving ban for 18-year-old
A rookie driver made an ‘ L’ of a mess at a filling station when she took a shot of her pal’s motor.
Charlotte Gibson, 18, gunned her friend’s Renault Clio right into the shop at the Esso Garage in Main Road, Elderslie, cracking the window, and sending items tumbling from the shelves.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Gibson had been out with pals in her friend’s black Clio on June 19, last year, when they pulled in at the forecourt.
Procurator fiscal depute Victoria Keel said: “Gibson and her two friends had alighted from the vehicle and were attending the garage shop.
“Thereafter, they returned to the motor vehicle.
“Gibson entered the passenger side door. Her friend, the vehicle owner, attended at the shop.
“Gibson alighted from the vehicle, then re-entered from the driver’s door side where she sat in the driver’s seat.
“Her friend signalled to the accused to start the engine by motioning his hand.
“The accused started the engine. The car’s headlights went on. She drove the car forward, colliding with a metal storage container situated in front of the garage shop window.
“This then collided with the shop window, causing it to crack, and it knocked various items from the shelves onto the floor.”
The court heard witnesses in the shop contacted police, who quickly attended to take statements.
The fiscal added when she was questioned by police about the accident, Gibson replied: “It was me.”
She was cautioned and charged by cops.
Gibson, of Paisley, pleaded guilty by letter to charges of driving without reasonable consideration for other persons by driving the motor into a kiosk and causing damage to the shop window.
She also admitted driving without a proper licence and driving without insurance.
Sheriff Lindsey Kooner read a letter from the teenager’s parents and decided to proceed with the case in her absence.
She banned her from driving for six months, reduced from nine months because of her plea of guilty.
She also fined her £ 280, payable at £10 per week, and applied a Fines Enforcement Order.
Her friend signalled ... to start the engine