A pilot who fell asleep at the wheel of his car and demolished a lamp-post has escaped a driving ban.
Alaisdair Cross was returning from a job interview in Leeds to his home in Fife when the five-hour journey proved too much.
In court on Friday, Cross was told by Sheriff Charles Macnair: “I would have thought you, more than anyone else, would have realised the danger of driving any form of vehicle when tired. It was extremely fortunate there was no one else on the road at the time.”
Cross, 28, of School House, Fordell, admitted that on February 11 on the B981 Inverkeithing to Crossgates road he drove carelessly, fell asleep while driving and lost control of the car, causing it to collide with a lamp-post.
Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said the accident occurred at 12.40am when Cross had been driving for five hours.
His car crossed the carriageway and the lamppost, which was completely uprooted by the impact.
Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said his client was a commercial pilot working mainly from Cumbernauld and Oban airports and his driving licence was essential to him.
He had been in Leeds for an interview and his journey was made longer than it should have been by roadworks and heavy traffic, he continued.
“He had stopped twice and didn’t for a minute anticipate he would fall asleep,” added Mr Flett. “He is very remorseful and cooperated fully with the police.”
Sheriff Macnair said he was just persuaded “by a whisker” not to impose a ban.
Instead, he fined Cross £600 and imposed nine penalty points on his licence.