INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT: Unlicensed 18-year-old placed under social supervision after multiple road offences in the Highlands
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An unlicensed and uninsured teenager committed seven road traffic offences within two weeks including one of driving dangerously at over 100mph on the A9.
But 18-year-old Duncan MacLennan, of Cantray Road, Croy wasn’t finished there. He committed another three in Inverness in the early hours of October 15 including driving despite being under a court order not to get behind the wheel.
MacLennan, formerly of Aultbea, appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to detention.
He was also placed under 18 months of social work supervision by Sheriff David Harvie and told to take part in an offender’s awareness programme.
Sheriff Harvie told him: “This is your chance to plan and build for a future.”
The court heard that on April 10 this year, MacLennan was selling a car for a friend and instructed not to drive it. But he did and took it from Croy to Ullapool where he filled it up with £81.48 worth of fuel without paying. He then drove it to Gairloch where the owner spotted him.
More than two weeks later on April 25, he took and drove away his father’s car from the Dalcross Industrial Estate and police pursued him along the A96 to the Longman roundabout.
Fiscal depute Emily Hood said MacLennan ignored the blue lights to stop, lost control at the roundabout before taking off at speeds of more than 100mph through 50mph roadworks.
“The police decided to abort their pursuit at that stage due to the risk of the workers there,” Ms Hood added.
After appearing in court on those offences, MacLennan was given a bail condition not to drive.
However, when his father was taken to Raigmore Hospital A&E with a back problem, he took his dad’s car and drove them both home.
MacLennan admitted two charges each of having no licence, no insurance, taking and driving away vehicles. He also pleaded guilty to driving carelessly, driving dangerously, having no MOT, failing to stop for police and the theft of the fuel.
Sheriff Harvie imposed a compensation order of £82 and fined him a total of £210.
Defence solicitor Willie Young said: “He has had a chaotic childhood but has some stability now having moved in with his partner’s parents.
“He had been leading a nomadic lifestyle and sometimes sleeping in his father’s car.
“He accepts he behaved in a reckless and immature manner and realises he is in a grave position as custody will be uppermost in the court’s mind.
“He was at A&E because his father was there and they tried to get a taxi home. But they had little in the way of funds and he decided to drive his father home.”
