Man admits careless driving

A MAN who admitted carrying out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre in his car has been fined £300 and given three penalty points.

Thirty eight year old Radek Balas, of Hildasay House, Upper Scalloway, pleaded guilty to charge of driving a car without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other people on 28 May this year.

He overtook other cars while his view of the A970 Grutness to Hillswick road was restricted, causing other road users to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said it was “simply a badly misjudged overtake manoeuvre and was only completed safely due to the action of other motorists”.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client was employed in the fishing industry and had been driving in the UK for over a decade.

It was a difficult case because police contacted Balas a couple of weeks afterwards and he “racked his brain” but could not recall the incident. 

But Allan said his client was prepared to accept what witnesses had said and was not trying to avoid responsibility.

Sheriff Philip Mann said Balas’ fine was reduced from £450 to reflect his guilty plea.