Drug addict driver in car smash

Was accelerating from store

A 64-year-old motorist lost control of a Mercedes, mounted the pavement and crashed into a parked car, causing extensive damage, after accelerating away from a Kinross supermarket.

And when his details were checked by police, it emerged his licence had been revoked - and he had no insurance.

It led to Allan Gibson (64), of St Serf’s Place, Crook of Devon, being fined £500 and banned for 12 months at Perth Sheriff Court.

In a separate incident, he turned to shoplifting and stole a £145 television from a Sainsbury’s store to fund his drug habit.

That offence attracted a Community Payback Order.

He admitted driving without a licence or insurance on Junction Road, Station Road and Emslie Drive, Kinross, on December 1 last year.

He also pled guilty to driving carelessly and hitting the parked car.

A further charge of stealing a TV from the Kinross branch of Sainsbury’s on November 30, 2017, was also admitted.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said the crash resulted in “significant damage” to the door of the parked vehicle, as well as damage to the friend’s car he was driving.

The stolen TV set wasn’t recovered.

Solicitor Cliff Culley said his client “appreciated” he would be disqualified from driving.

He added: “Unfortunately he relapsed into drug misuse and stole the television to fund that.”

Sheriff Gillian Wade ordered Gibson to be supervised for 18 months and take part in a drug treatment programme as part of the Community Payback Order.

He will also have to pay £145 compensation to the store, at the rate of £10 a week.

And she warned him: “If you don’t comply, you will be brought back to court and the only available option will be custody.”