Navy man fined for ‘act of gross stupidity’

A ROYAL Navy officer’s moment of “gross stupidity” after a night out that saw him drive someone else’s van back to his ship which was visiting Shetland has landed him with a £600 fine.

Darren Lees, of Walcheren Place in Poole, Dorset, previously admitted taking a van at McNab’s Kippers in Lerwick on 7 May and driving it without having either the consent of the owner or the lawful authority.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday that the 33 year old took the van – which was unlocked and had its keys inside – and drove it a “relatively short” distance to the ship.

The van was recovered by its owner the next day when he went on the look-out for it.

Mackenzie said it was an “act of stupidity” which has “certainly embarrassed himself and the Royal Navy”.

Defence agent James Eodanable said his client, who has been with the Royal Navy for over 15 years, wanted to apologise to “all he has inconvenienced.”

He said Lees had arrived back to the UK from a holiday to be told he had to join the ship in Lerwick immediately.

The solicitor said Lees became “cold and lost” after going back early from a night out with some of his shipmates and decided to take the van.

Eodanable said Lees would lose his job in Poole if he was disqualified and would be sent to Portsmouth instead, uprooting his family in the process.

He said the offence was a “stupid act of a sensible man who otherwise does a responsible job”.

Sheriff Philip Mann decided against disqualifying Lees from driving on the basis that he was a first-time offender.

“I’m prepared to accept that this was an act of gross stupidity which was somewhat out of character,” he said. “However, I can’t just sweep it under the carpet.”