News / Teen driver banned / court round-up
A TEENAGER who drunkenly crashed his car only months after passing his test before refusing to give provide blood samples has been banned from the road.
The 17 year old, from the west side of Shetland, previously admitted driving without due care or attention on Quendale Road, near the junction with Quendale Farm, on 18 December.
Lerwick Sheriff Court previously heard that the teenager careered into a bus shelter, causing damage to his car and the shelter.
At the court on Wednesday, procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the teenager had been drinking before taking to the wheel.
He was traced by police not long after the incident, but began “playing the fool” by refusing to let a doctor take a blood sample.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client only got his licence in April, but hasn’t developed the “maturity” yet to hold onto it. The solicitor added that the man lost his job as a result of the incident.
Sheriff Philip Mann said the crash “could have caused injury or even death” to the driver or other road users.
He disqualified the teenager for 16 months and ordered the forfeiture of his vehicle for failing to provide a specimen of blood.
The ban may be reduced by four months if a drink-driver’s rehab course is completed.
His licence was endorsed for his driving and failure to report the accident to police as soon as possible.
A LERWICK woman who fraudulently obtained almost £20,000 in benefits has had sentence deferred for one month to organise a repayment plan.
Jacquelyn Graham, of 24 Sandveien, previously admitted giving false information to the Department of Work and Pensions between 2 April 2010 and 30 July 2014 and receiving income support payments of £10,040.79 she was not entitled to.
The 35 year old also lied to obtain housing and council tax benefit from Shetland Islands Council worth £9,925.74.
At Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, defence Tommy Allan argued that it was unfair his client was solely responsible for the offence as the charge included a cohabiter “colluding” with her.
He added that the woman is also affected by “health and psychological” issues stemming from a childhood car crash that altered her “functioning”.
Allan said the money wrongly obtained was not used for a “flashy lifestyle” and instead went towards providing for Graham’s three children.
Agreeing with the woman’s defence agent, Sheriff Philip Mann said it was likely there was no “conscious decision to defraud” money.
He deferred sentence until 17 February to allow Graham, who was in line to land a new job, to sort out a repayment plan.
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