A disqualified driver was caught riding a motorbike after being stopped by police who thought he was wearing pyjamas.
Philip Elrick was clad in what seemed to be sleepwear and a safety helmet as he zipped past officers in the middle of the day.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard the 32-year-old was late for an appointment.
He narrowly escaped a jail sentence after the court heard he has a history of driving offences.
Appeared to be in pyjamas
The court was told Elrick was spotted in the early afternoon.
Fiscal depute Andrew Brown said: “At 12.45pm officers were on mobile patrol when a motorcycle went past them.
“The driver came to their attention as although he was wearing a helmet, he appeared to be wearing pyjamas.
“They turned their vehicle around and saw the accused stop the bike and dismount.
“A check of the police national computer revealed the accused was disqualified on November 17 2021 for 12 months.
“The check also revealed the accused was the registered keeper of the vehicle.”
Late for appointment
Elrick, of Nicol Drive, Burntisland, previously admitted driving while disqualified on Kirkcaldy’s Links Street on June 29 last year.
A not guilty plea of driving without insurance was accepted by the Crown.
He was back in court after the preparation of background reports.
Solicitor Katie Stewart, defending, said her client had made a spur of the moment decision to use the vehicle.
She said: “He accepts full responsibility for his actions.
“The author of the report had taken the view that Mr Elrick does not understand the severity of his choice.
“However he advises me that he knows it was foolish of him to drive whilst disqualified.
“He was late for an appointment at the town house and made a split second decision to drive.
“He does recognise the severity and the possible consequences, not just to himself but to other road users.”
Dodged prison
Sheriff John MacRitchie told Elrick driving while disqualified constituted a breach of a court order.
He said: “Driving whilst disqualified is a particularly serious offence.
“You have convictions for driving without a licence in the past – you have reached a different level, ie the custodial threshold.
“At 32 you know what you are doing. You know how contemptuous you are being.”
However he opted not to jail Elrick as he had no identical previous convictions.
Elrick was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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