A dad-to-be sobbed uncontrollably in the dock as he was jailed just two days before his partner is due to give birth to their first child.
There were also tears on the public benches as Stewart Melville was ordered to spend 10 months behind bars after he admitted driving while disqualified.
Cupar Sheriff Court heard that the offence occurred within weeks of him being released early from a previous jail term, imposed following an analogous conviction.
Melville admitted that on Wednesday afternoon he drove in the Fife village of Guardbridge while disqualified. The 26-year-old, of Main Street, Guardbridge, also pleaded guilty to charges of motoring without insurance and of providing police with a false name and address when he was stopped due to the erratic nature of his driving.
Melville appeared inconsolable as the sentence was handed down, his sobs being echoed just a few yards away in the public benches where his heavily pregnant partner was being comforted by friends.
The accused’s solicitor had pleaded for leniency, saying Melville was desperate to attend the birth of the pair’s first child, who is due on Saturday.
Defence agent Martin McGuire also pointed out that the pregnancy had been ”complicated” and that the accused’s partner may need to undergo a Caesarian section.
Depute fiscal Nicola Henderson told the court Melville was stopped by police just yards from his home after they became alarmed by the manner of his driving.
”At 4.10pm on the date in question police officers driving in a marked vehicle near the locus had their attention drawn to the accused, who was driving a Ford Focus,” she said.
”He was revving heavily while attempting to negotiate a roundabout and was stopped by the officers.”
Aware that he was effectively serving the ”second half” of a jail term previously imposed at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Melville initially provided police with a false name and address. But a cursory check by officers revealed the truth and the accused was duly arrested.
Mr McGuire said Melville and his partner had only just bought the car as they attempted to best prepare for the arrival of their baby. He insisted his client had taken it for a ”very short drive” after carrying out some work.
”Mr Melville’s partner is due to give birth to their first child on October 1,” the defence agent said. ”There have been some complications during the pregnancy and if she does not go into natural labour she will be either induced or a C-section will be carried out.
”Mr Melville is obviously very keen to be at home to support his partner during this period.”
Mr McGuire said the accused’s partner was not aware he had taken the car.
Sheriff Charles Macnair insisted he had no option but to jail Melville.
”You have an appalling record of driving offences including a previous conviction for driving while disqualified, for which you received a custodial sentence,” he told him.
”You have no business whatsoever to be driving. You have never even passed a driving test or had a full licence.
”Having regard to the fact you were still serving the second part of a prison sentence I consider that the only appropriate disposal is imprisonment.”