Dingwall joiner jailed for fifth time as driving offence lands five-year ban from sheriff who also slams lack of concern for court orders or others' safety

A ROSS-shire joiner who drove while disqualified for the sixth time was jailed for a total of nine months after a tongue-lashing from a Highland sheriff.

Michael Manson (25) of Ross Wynd, Dingwall, admitted the latest offence at Inverness Sheriff Court this week. It occurred on March 31, 2020 on a country track outside Dingwall.

He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and driving carelessly at excessive speed between the town's Docharty Brae and Tulloch Castle Drive.

Sheriff David Sutherland, who noted that Manson had served four previous prison sentences for similar offences, banned him from driving for five years.

Fiscal Depute, David Morton, said: “Police received intelligence that a disqualified driver was driving in a rural area in Ross-shire popular with dog walkers.

“A Land Rover Discovery turned onto the track at excessive speed. Two dog owners and their dog felt it necessary to take evasive action and go onto the verge as it passed.”

Mr Morton added that this was reported to police who pursued Manson a short time later.

“He initially left the vehicle but they caught up with him.”

Defence solicitor, John MacColl, said: “My client lives with his partner and three children. He works as a joiner at a small business.

“He is the breadwinner and a jail sentence would have serious repercussions on his family, his career and on his employees.

“He was entitled to drive on the field but not on the track, he had been fixing a vehicle and took it for a test drive to test the suspensions and was bumping around on the track.” Mr MacColl added.

Sheriff Sutherland told Manson: “You have been disqualified from driving on five previous occasions.

“Yet, here we have another occasion which shows you have no concern for the orders of the court or for people’s safety.”