Elderly man drove without due care

AN EIGHTY nine year old man who drove into a restricted area of Scalloway Harbour before nearly hitting an employee with his car has been given four penalty points and £200 fine.

John Laurenson, of the village’s Ladysmith Road, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to driving without due care or attention and entering an area restricted to the public at the harbour on 25 May.

He also pled guilty to failing to maintain proper control of his vehicle when attempting to execute a three-point turn and performing an emergency stop to avoid a collision with a port employee.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the port staff member heard the pensioner driving towards him before appealing to him to stop with hand gestures because he was entering a private area.

The employee thought Laurenson got the message and began to get back to work, but after walking about three feet he heard “screeching” tyres before seeing the 89 year old’s car travelling towards him.

Mackenzie said the vehicle only came to a halt just a few inches away from the complainer, who then told Laurenson he would phone the police.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client was offered a fixed penalty by police, but at the time thought he had done nothing wrong.

He said Laurenson regularly drove to the pier to check on his son’s fishing vessel.

Allan added that his client, who has had a clean licence since passing his test in 1949, said the complainer used “colourful language” and told him to leave.

The solicitor said a doctor’s report suggested there were no issues with Laurenson’s health in relation to driving.

Sheriff Philip Mann, however, told Laurenson that the offence “may be explained by your advanced years”.