A teenager caught doing around 100mph on a rural road had only passed his driving test four months before.
Police had to drive at almost 100mph in order to keep up with John Cruickshank on the B9024 Turriff to Forgue road.
To make matters worse, the then 17-year-old was travelling in a car that was in a dangerous condition.
The silver Volkswagen Gold had suspension so low that the tyres rubbed the wheel arches and two large cracks on the windscreen.
Cruickshank, now 18, admitted a charge of dangerous driving at Banff Sheriff Court.
That charge included him driving at “grossly excessive speeds” with his car in a dangerous condition.
Police hit 100mph to catch up
Fiscal depute Kirsty Martin said police spotted Cruickshank when they were on mobile patrol near Birchfield at around 5.30pm on September 17 last year.
“It was a 60mph limit and it was noted his vehicle was driving at excessive speeds.
“Police had to travel at 100mph on occasions as it became apparent the vehicle was being driven at similar speeds as it took them 1.5 miles to catch up with him.
“Footage from within the police vehicle shows them travelling at 97mph.”
Danger of car’s ‘catastrophic failure’
She added that when officers examined the car its suspension had been lowered so much that its tyres rubbed against the wheel arch when the vehicle was in motion.
That could have led to a “catastrophic failure”, the court was told.
Defence agent Stuart Beveridge said the youngster realised he’d been “stupid” to drive at such speeds and with the car in such a state, but highlighted that police had been stationary before trying to catch up with his client.
“He does accept he was going in the region of 80 to 90mph, which was grossly excessive for the road conditions and on a country road.”
The solicitor handed over a reference in “glowing terms” from Cruickshank’s employer and said he’d struggle to rely on public transport in the future given his rural home.
Only passed test four months earlier
“He had only been driving since May 2021,” he added. “This was a matter of months since passing his test.
“He accepts it was inappropriate and that the car was in a poor condition and shouldn’t have been on the road.
“He had sold that car and is subsequently driving a much slower vehicle.”
However, Sheriff Robert McDonald had no option but to ban him from the road.
He added: “This was very poor driving for someone who has not been driving very long.
“I hope that when you finally get your licence back the way that you drive will be very different. You are certainly not getting back for some time … at least a year.”
Sheriff McDonald banned Cruickshank, of Auchry Walled Garden, Cuminestown, for 12 months and fined him £760.
He must also sit an extended test to regain his licence.
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