‘Breathtaking immaturity’

A TEENAGER who “terrified” a number of children by revving his motorbike near a primary school playpark has been banned from the road for eight months.

Sam Pearson, of Lerwick’s North Road, admitted at the town’s Sheriff Court on Thursday to driving the bike without due care or attention at Tingwall Primary School on 20 October.

He drove into a children’s playground at excessive speed and depressed the vehicle’s accelerator while it was stationary.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 18 year old engaged in a “brief act of breathtaking immaturity” as he showed off in front of his friends by spinning his wheels and creating smoke.

His behaviour left a number of children who were in the playground at the time “terrified”, with some running away in tears. They were aged between seven and ten.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sometimes “acts before he thinks”.

Sheriff Philip Mann said the offence was a “serious breach” of road traffic law and disqualified him from driving, as well as fining him £300.

The sheriff also gave Pearson six penalty points and another fine of £150 for using a car without insurance on the A970 at Girlsta on 30 April.

Mackenzie said the 18 year old was sitting in a car as it was being towed by another vehicle and was in essence steering it.

Allan said the “banger” was being towed to a scrap yard in Yell and that his client had actually sought advice from the police about how best to tow the vehicle prior to taking the journey.