The boss of an Aberdeen helicopter firm has appeared in court to pass on apologies from his absent son, who crashed his parents’ Jaguar while over the drink-driving limit.
In circumstances that were described as “exceptional” Mohammad Reza Najd Javadi Pour sat in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and explained that his son, Sean Pour, could not attend because he was in Dubai.
Pour, 19, took the car without his parents’ permission and was caught three times the drink-drive limit when the car’s in-built crash detection system called the police for help.
But Pour, who also didn’t hold a licence at the time, was unable to attend court because of his job in the United Arab Emirates so his businessman father represented him instead.
The teenager’s dad, who owns Eunergy Helicopters, told Sheriff Shirley McKenna: “He is very sorry.”
Built-in crash system alerted police
Fiscal depute Jane Spark told the court the incident involved a silver Jaguar and occurred at 2.22am on September 25 last year on the city’s Morningside Crescent.
“Police received a call from a collision detection system from within the vehicle being driven by the accused,” she said.
“The accused advised that his name was Sean Pour and that he had taken his parent’s car without permission and crashed it.
“Police attended at the scene and when asked to identify the driver the accused replied ‘it was me’.”
A blood test at the police station showed that the teen had 132 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit being 50.
In a letter to the court, Pour admitted driving without a licence and without insurance, taking the vehicle without the permission of the owners and drink-driving.
‘For months after this he remained in his room’
Mohammad Reza Najd Javadi Pour addressed Sheriff McKenna directly and spoke of how sorry his son was for his offending.
“Sean was very sad,” Mr Pour said.
“For months after this he remained in his room. In March we planned to send him to Belgium, the place of his birth, so he could overcome the trauma.”
He said this plan changed when the court paperwork came through and his son could make a guilty plea to the charges.
Usually accused persons must attend court personally for sentencing, especially in instances involving road traffic matters where disqualifications are imposed.
“Because he speaks five languages we sent him to the Emirates lately. He has started a job there,” Mr Pour added.
“On behalf of him, I pass on his apologies to the court. That’s his words, not my words. He is very sorry.”
Father ‘didn’t have to’ come to court
He said he will be supporting his son financially for a time as he has just started work abroad and agreed to the terms of any fine.
Sheriff McKenna also considered a letter from the teenager which spoke of his remorse and thanked Mr Pour for coming along to court when he “didn’t have to”.
She added: “I am grateful to you for coming along as we deal with this in your son’s absence. It’s in exceptional circumstances we are allowed to do that.”
She handed Pour, of Rubislaw Den North, Aberdeen, an £800 fine and banned him from the road for 14 months.
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