23 hours Ago
A teenage careless driver who gave up school to run his 83-year-old grandfather's farm kept his driving licence when his neighbours rallied round to support him. John Macpherson's solicitor advocate, Clare Russell, put up several letters of reference to Sheriff Ian Cruckshank after the 18-year-old, of Easter Drummond, Whitebridge had admitted the offence which occurred on the B862 on a bridge over the River Tarff near Fort Augustus at about 1pm on September 9 last year. Fiscal depute Shay Traynor told : "He overtook a vehicle at 45mph in a 30mph zone and overtook another at 50mph on a blind bend and then collided with a car on the single-track bridge after ignoring a give way sign.
• • "It is a high level of carelessness." However Ms Russell said: "He knew the road very well so was not paying full attention after he thought the bridge was clear. He called the police and paid for the recovery of both vehicles.
"If he loses his licence other people will suffer. As he is a new driver, six penalty points on his licence or a disqualification would result in him having to resit his test." Fining Macpherson £640 and endorsing his licence with five penalty points, Sheriff Cruickshank said: "From the references given to me, I see you are well thought of in the local community.
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