A former Black Watch sergeant could lose his license after he was caught driving at 55mph in a 40mph island road.
James Smith, 47, pleaded guilty to the offence at Breakish, near Broadford,on the main road through Skye,the A87, on March 22.
He originally pleaded guilty by letter, and claimed he might have to sell his house if he lost his job, which involved a lot of driving.
However, with a ban in the offing Sheriff Eric Brown refused to accept a letter plea and ordered Smith to make a personal appearance before him.
And yesterday at Portree Sheriff Court smartly-suited Smith- with a military veteran’s badge in his left lapel- marched into the dock to face the music.
He said,’I do not have a lawyer.I just want to plead guilty as I was guilty.’
Fiscal Stewart Maciver explained how police using a ‘laser device’ caught the driver speeding and he made no reply when charged.
The sheriff told the Fife man that the only way out of avoiding a driving ban was to show the court there were ‘special reasons’ for his speed or that ‘exceptional hardship’ would result from a ban.
Smith said: “My employers do not know about my impending ban but I will have to tell them now.So I will be out of a job on Friday.
‘I need my licence to get to and from work and to attend meetings in our Stirling office.I drive to different sites to supervise.We are the main contractors.
‘I genuinely thought I was on a 60mph road and set my cruise control at 55mph.”
The sheriff told Smith: “I strongly advise you get a lawyer.I cannot put words in your mouth.But I am here to see that justice is done.
“I cannot expect you to make legal submissions as you don’t know the law.”
Smith agreed to consult a lawyer and the sheriff deferred sentence on his verbal guilty plea until August 1.
Smith, of 18 Sir Thomas Elder Way, Kirkcaldy, declined to comment.