Motorcyclist gets new ban

A SIXTY year old man from Burra who drove a motorbike earlier this year while disqualified has narrowly avoided being sent to jail.

James Fullerton, of Atlaness, Hamnavoe, was given a new five-year driving ban, 200 hours of unpaid work to complete and a fine of £400 when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

He previously admitted driving while disqualified and uninsured on Scalloway’s New Road on 17 February.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 60 year old was spotted by police.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the question “what on earth was he doing?” very much applied in this instance.

He said a Suzuki bike which Fullerton had always wanted to own came up for sale on a local classifieds service.

He bought the motorbike and planned to keep it in his garage until his ban ended in 2018, but he could not resist the temptation.

The former seaman did not have the best of health and before a liver transplant he did not have a good life expectancy, the solicitor said.

Allan said Fullerton was having a difficult time and “did not have much hope and little freedom”.

The solicitor said the motorcycle was worth £4,000 and could be forfeited if honorary sheriff Malcolm Bell was thinking of issuing a “severe” punishment.

He added that Fullerton’s wife had recently been diagnosed with cancer and that he wanted to be available to support her.

Sheriff Bell said that sending the 60 year old to custody was something worth considering “very seriously”.

However, in light of Fullerton’s health issues, he decided to place him on a community payback order and issue a second driving ban.

He decided against granting forfeiture of the motorbike.