A motorist who travelled just a matter of yards from his home has been banned – for driving while disqualified.
Jamie Sutherland took the car from his garden onto the street in Halkirk as he carried out repairs on it.
But neighbours – who knew he was subject to a four-month disqualification – reported him to the police.
Yesterday the 22-year-old appeared at Wick Sheriff Court and admitted the offence.
Fiscal David Barclay said the neighbours’ attention was attracted by the sound of Sutherland revving the engine of the car, and watched as he manoeuvred it the short distance from the garden of his then home, onto the adjoining street and back again.
Solicitor Patrick O’ Dea said Sutherland, now living with his mother at Orkney View, Forss, had sold the Corsa for scrap, on June 17, two days after the offence.
Sheriff Andrew Berry said he had cause to be concerned about the Sutherland in the past, specifically about his behaviour in court and the “boorish” and “selfish” nature of his driving, in particular spinning the wheels of his car.
He recalled thinking when he banned Sutherland, previously, that it was “inevitable” he would be back in court because he seemed to have “some difficulty accepting what the court tells you not to do”.
Sheriff Berry added: “I very often send someone who drives while disqualified to prison because it is an act of defiance and if this happens again, you can come to court prepared for that.”
However, he accepted it was not a typical case of driving while disqualified and he would take account of the limited circumstances.
Sutherland was banned for nine months and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community, within three months.