A 21-year-old Angus man has dodged a jail term after his second disqualified driving conviction within months.
Callum Davidson had a young child on his knee when he drove a short distance in Kirriemuir after a row, and was warned by a sheriff the offence was “as close as one could come to flouting orders of the court.”
Davidson, of Kirriemuir’s Duthie Street, appeared for sentence after earlier admitting driving whilst disqualified and without insurance on December 8.
The incident happened around 9.15pm when the accused got in the car after an argument and was reported to police.
The court heard Davidson was banned in the middle of last year under totting-up rules, but was then convicted of driving whilst disqualified in November.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said his client was also facing an indictment matter, but negotiations were ongoing in relation to that case and it is likely to resolve.
“This offence was fairly impulsive and he has now got rid of the vehicle so that temptation is no longer there,” he added.
“He had a fairly limited record until recently, but is now aware that his liberty is at risk because of this.
“He has a reasonably strong work ethic, normally working in the Angus glens, and is apologetic for this.”
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio told Davidson: “You were disqualified from driving in the middle of the year and convicted of driving whilst disqualified on November 15.
“This is as close as one can get to simply flouting the orders of the court.
“You are narrowly avoiding imprisonment, but you must be in no doubt that should there be any repetition of this that you will be very likely imprisoned. The court will simply not tolerate it.”
Davidson received a one-year Community Payback Order including 140 hours of unpaid work, and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.