Driver keeps licence despite hitting police

AN APPRENTICE mechanic in Shetland has managed to hold onto his driving licence despite crashing into a brand new police vehicle.

Shane Johnson, of 40 Robertson Crescent, Lerwick, would have faced a ban had he received six penalty points after admitting careless driving at the town’s sheriff court on Wednesday.

The court heard that the 20 year old was driving his young family out of the town along Commercial Road when he failed to spot the police pull out onto a roundabout from the Grantfield garage on 4 January.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said: “It was a classic case of a moment’s inattention, but rather unfortunately for Mr Johnson that inattention involved him colliding with a brand new police vehicle.

“He failed to make that glance over the right shoulder and the end result is that he’s done a fair amount of damage.”

Defence agent Liam McAllister said Johnson, who turns 21 this week, had three children to support with a fourth on the way next month.

However he only earns £2.65 an hour as an apprentice about to start his second year, during which he will have to attend Inverness College.

“It was a very costly moment’s inattention and a very unfortunate set of circumstances,” McAllister said.

However Sheriff Philip Mann accepted it was a fairly minor offence and only imposed the minimum of three points and a £175 fine.