A serial criminal with the worst road traffic record a sheriff has ever seen is back behind bars.
James Wilton was jailed for seven months and banned from the road for life after appearing before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar, despite a plea from his solicitor to let the 38-year-old attempt to get his life on track.
Wilton, of Abernethy Road, Broughty Ferry, ended up back in the dock on charges of driving a motorbike while disqualified and without insurance on Westway, Arbroath, on May 3.
The court heard he flipped in a “moment of madness” after seeing his partner using hard drugs and hopped on the motorcycle.
However, the accused suffered serious injuries, including two broken vertebrae, when he was knocked off the bike.
The court heard that has resulted in a separate prosecution but also led to the accused being arrested on the driving matters.
Defence agent Gary Foulis said Wilton was a man whose life has been blighted by illicit substance abuse.
“We are talking about a man who hasn’t come to the attention of the court for almost three years, which is a considerable achievement for Mr Wilton.
“This was not a pre-meditated offence. He was in a relationship and saw that his partner was using heroin.
“He removed himself from the situation and took the rather poor decision to drive the motorbike.
“He is stable on methadone and is attending regular appointments. This man has a considerable record but he has done a lot of good work in rehabilitating himself. This was a moment of madness.”
Sheriff Murray told Wilton: “Yours is the worst road traffic record I have seen in all my time on the bench.
“I fully accept you have had your problems and are attempting to deal with them but there is no alternative to custody.”