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Keith man admits driving while banned for the twelfth time


By Ali Morrison

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A KEITH man has admitted driving while banned for the twelfth time.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson was surprised when shown the previous convictions of welder Barry Thomson (30), of Alexander Road, Keith, believing it heralded a first for her court.

Sheriff Neilson was presiding at Inverness Sheriff Court when Mr Thomson appeared before her via video link.

It emerged that Thomson had 11 previous convictions for disqualified driving and 19 endorsements on his driving record.

Thomson admitted his 12th contravention of a driving ban as well as careless driving and driving without insurance on Tuesday.

Sheriff Neilson told defence solicitor Iain Houston: "I don't think I have ever seen so many endorsements."

Mr Houston conceded that his client "deserved" a prison sentence for the latest offences, committed in Mosstodloch on July 12, 2020.

Fiscal depute Alex Swain told the court that Thomson had driven a vehicle at speed past his ex-partner before swerving in front of her car, stopping both.

Ms Swain added: "He blocked the road, got out and began shouting and swearing about her failing to answer her phone. Police were called."

Mr Houston explained that his client, who also pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour towards his former partner, was suffering from depression at the time.

He said: "This was as a result of a combination of financial concerns, his work and his on-off relationship which made his mental condition worse.

"She had called off the relationship and he wanted to talk to her. He had access to a car and drove to talk to her."

Sentence was deferred until March 24 on Thomson, who has been on remand since August 10 last year, for a background report.


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