Joiner banned from the road and fined

A joiner was banned from driving for three-and-a-half years and fined £950 when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Ryan Stewart, 26, of Grodians, Lerwick, pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drink or drugs at Nordvatn and Sound Brae on 23rd March.

Stewart pleaded not guilty to driving his car without due care and attention, swerving around the road and onto the verge and failing to stop when indicated to do so by police, and with possessing valium, all on 23rd March. These pleas were accepted.

However he admitted colliding with a car on Scalloway Road on 6th April, failing to stop, failing to give his name and address to people who might have required it and not providing police with the identity of the driver at Lerwick Police Station.

Defence solicitor Keith Bovey said that in a short period Stewart, a “hard working” joiner, was a “changed man”. The day after his most recent offence he had gone to police and made a “clean breast” of things. He had paid for the minor damage to the other car, which had only scratches to the rear bumper, and squared things with the other motorist.

Mr Bovey said that Stewart’s employer valued him highly and wanted to keep him on. If he were to lose his licence it would mean he could not go out on jobs.

Sentencing Stewart, Sheriff Philip Mann said that this was the second such offence within 10 years. The disqualification and fines were reduced to reflect the stage at which Stewart had pleaded guilty.