A disabled driver has been banned from the roads after mounting a pavement, hitting a building then driving off.
George Cunningham, who survived polio at the age of 10, had earlier pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on Perth’s South Street on June 7.
The city’s sheriff court heard the 82-year-old was attempting to move around another parked car when the incident occurred.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said: “It was 1.30pm and witnesses were walking on the pavement on the north side of South Street; at that time the area was busy with pedestrians.
“The witnesses became aware of a Toyota Picnic parked, facing east, in a disabled bay. The car then moved forward and mounted the pavement on which the witnesses were walking and collided with a Honda, causing some damage.
“The accused’s car continued to move along the pavement at about five or 10 miles per hour and collided with a litter bin. That was pushed along the pavement, in front of the car, for a distance of several metres.
“Members of the public had to take evasive action to avoid being struck by the car.”
He added that Cunningham had subsequently struck a building at low speed and spoke to a member of the public before driving off.
Police apprehended him at the junction of South Street and Tay Street.
Solicitor Jamie Baxter, defending, said Cunningham had an unblemished driving career. He said: “Mr Cunningham is 82 years old. He has been driving in excess of 60 years and had had a clean record for the whole of that period.
“He’s never come to the attention of the police or courts before this is an alien experience for him.”
He added that due to the width of the pavement, Cunningham had been unaware he had mounted it and had no recollection of hitting the building, though he remembered striking the bin.
Sheriff Valerie Johnston fined Cunningham, of Keay Street, Blairgowrie, £420 and handed him a one-year ban. However, Cunningham will not be able to get back behind the wheel until he sits the extended driving test.