Man, 100, is oldest in Scotland to be charged

A MAN of 100 has become the oldest person in Scotland ever to be charged with a crime.

Peter Smith earned his unfortunate place in legal history after being accused of causing a road crash in which a cyclist was injured.

The pensioner is due to celebrate his birthday this week – so if the case against him proceeds to court, he will stand in the dock at the age of 101.

Mr Smith was driving from his home in Dunoon, Argyll, when the crash took place earlier this month.

Last night, a spokesman for Police Scotland said: ‘We received a report of a road traffic collision involving a car and a cyclist on Shore Road, Dunoon, around 12.30pm on Tuesday, April 7.

‘The cyclist, a 51-year-old man, was taken to Cowal Community Hospital as a precaution for his injuries.

‘The driver of the blue Renault Clio, a 100-year-old man, has been charged in relation to the collision.

‘A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.’

In 2005, a 96-year-old driver was pulled over by police and taken to court for careless driving, after he almost brought a busy dual carriageway to a standstill by driving his Fiat Punto at 20mph. Herbert Street was ordered to resit his test by a judge at Dumfries Sheriff Court. Street claimed that the problem was with his car and not his driving.

It was thought at that time that Street was Scotland’s oldest driver but it was actually Iain Hosack, of Lochgoilhead, Argyll, who was still driving safely at the age of 100.

In 2006, Henry Free – then a mere 87 years old – was allowed to keep his driving licence despite causing a head-on smash in which another motorist was injured.

He pulled into the path of a car at a junction of the A9 near Crieff, Perthshire, and later admitted careless driving. The female driver of the other car suffered whiplash.

The Edinburgh pensioner was given eight points and fined £400 at Perth Sheriff Court.

Last year, the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, crashed his Land Rover into a Kia when he pulled on to the A149 near the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk. His vehicle was seen on its side after the accident.

Emma Fairweather, 47, a passenger in the other car, suffered a broken wrist, while the driver’s young son, who was sitting in the back, endured minor cuts and bruises.

Prince Philip was checked by a doctor as a precaution, although was not hurt. He voluntarily gave up his licence a month later. He said he had been affected by the glare of the sun.

‘Cyclist was taken to hospital as a precaution’