A Dundee man caught breaking the law in busy rush-hour traffic has been brought to justice by a vigilante cyclist.
Ivor McBean, 47, was caught on camera using a mobile phone behind the wheel, while wearing headphones and with what appeared to be an open laptop beside him.
Police started investigating after a video of the incident was posted on YouTube by a video-blogger known only as Aberdeen Cycle Cam.
McBean was fined £100 and given three penalty points at Aberdeen’s Justice of the Peace court today.
He was only charged in relation to using his mobile phone while driving.
Fiscal depute Cheryl Clark said: “There is a witness who cycles to work everyday. He has a GoPro camera on his helmet. He also has a YouTube channel where he posts footage.
“The witness was cycling along Queen’s Road when the accused overtook him.
“The cyclist then caught up with the vehicle. He viewed and recorded the accused with the device in his hand.”
She added: “During that time the traffic was quite congested. The witness felt this would cause a hazard to his driving.
“He took the footage home and posted it on his YouTube channel.”
Aberdeen Cycle Cam captured the shocking footage on February 5 at 5.05pm on Aberdeen’s busy Queen’s Road. His YouTube channel contains dozens of clips of problems he comes across on the roads.
In the description accompanying the video, the cyclist wrote: “This bloke is driving a three tonne Land Rover in town, looking at a mobile phone, laptop and wearing headphones on both ears.
“Not only he’s not paying any attention to the road, I suspect he’s not even on this planet.”
He added: “I just thought he was on a mobile phone like dozens of people on my daily commute.?”
After overtaking the cyclist McBean’s Land Rover got stuck in traffic – allowing the biker to catch up and confront him.
He used a light to get his attention and then pointed out his open laptop, mobile phone and headphones before McBean managed to drive off into the distance.
The court heard that police spoke to McBean, from Dundee, four days after the video was uploaded.
When interviewed by officers, he admitted he had picked up his phone to check for messages.
Defence agent Les Green said: “His phone had buzzed and he accepts that he picked it up. This has been a lesson to him.”
McBean was not present in court.