Banned driver poses ‘significant risk’ to public after second crash

A BANNED driver who crashed his car for a second time in four months after suffering a suspected seizure at the wheel has had his sentence deferred.

Vitalijs Melnikovs, 51, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to admit crashing into a ditch on the B9074 road at Trondra on 30 April 2026.

That came just three months after Melnikovs drove through the Co-op roundabout and into a fence in Lerwick after a suspected epilectic seizure.

The court heard last month that Melnikovs, from Burra, was banned from driving on 2 November 2023 because of his epilepsy.

He appeared from the dock on Wednesday to admit to driving dangerously and while banned in the latest incident in Trondra this April.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said these were “almost identical circumstances” to the January crash.

He told the court that Melnikovs posed a “significant risk” to health and safety.

Melnikovs was fined a total of £1,200 and banned from the road for a further 16 months at Lerwick Sheriff Court last month after admitting his part in the January offence, which had seen him drive at excessive speed over the pavement and into a sign and fence.

Sheriff Robert Frazer decided on Wednesday to defer sentencing Melnikovs for the preparation of background reports.

He will return to court for sentencing on 23 September.

Defence agent Tommy Allan reserved his mitigation until Melnikovs’ next appearance.