A Dundee man has held on to his driving licence, despite being caught travelling at 107mph along the A90.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard that first offender Dale Charite (26), of Craigmount Place, was anxious to return to his wife and daughter, who had been “frightened” by neighbours at their Charleston home.
Charite yesterday admitted the offence, which occurred at South Gateside when he was travelling home from work in Forfar on April 15.
Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie said when officers stopped Charite and advised him of the speed he had been doing, he replied, “I’m a hypocrite, I apologise if I have put anyone in danger. I regret this.”
Defence agent Scott Norrie said his client had received a concerned phone call from his Argentinian wife on the night.
He had wanted to return home to ensure she and their baby were safe after a disturbance in their street involving a group of their neighbours by whom they felt threatened.
Mr Norrie said the couple had returned from Spain, where Charite had managed a bar, and had been keen to find accommodation in Dundee at the earliest opportunity.
They had taken up the first offer of a house in the Charleston area a location described by Mr Norrie as being “socially deprived.”
He said the couple “quickly realised” several neighbours were “known to the courts,” and while his client knew he should not have been speeding, all he was thinking about was the welfare of his family.
He added that Charite was “extremely” hard working, had always been in full-time employment and had a “very favourable chance of promotion should he hold on to his licence.”
Mr Norrie said that as he was employed in Forfar and worked “erratic” hours, Charite might not be able to hold on to his job should he be banned.
Sheriff Kenneth Hogg told Charite that driving at speeds in excess of 100mph was “the height of stupidity,” but would not deal with it in a “Draconian” manner.
He ordered him to pay a £320 fine and imposed six penalty points on his licence.