Courts in Moray: Teenage driver admits 'showing off ' before Lossie crash
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"Cars are not toys" – that was a sheriff's message to a teenage driver who crashed and left a vehicle on its roof.
Greg Laing drove dangerously through Lossiemouth and seriously injured a motorist on the night of August 17, 2021
Laing, who was aged only 17 at the time, was carrying several passengers when he careered straight through the junction of Dunbar Street and St Geraldine's Road .
Fiscal depute Emily Hood said: "He was driving well in excess of the speed limit of 30mph and failed to give way at the junction, striking another car and injuring its driver.
"He was travelling at around 40mph to 50mph. The collision caused the other car to spin and his vehicle flipped and landed on its roof."
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that the other driver – a student – sustained a serious hand injury.
Sheriff Gary Aitken said: "This was exceedingly ill-advised. It is a miracle that this piece of driving did not result in significant consequences.
"You could have killed someone else or yourself. But you will have to live with the consequences of your actions for the rest of your life, as will the other driver."
The sheriff added that Laing's explanation to social workers that he was "young, inexperienced and showing off" had a ring of truth to it.
Defence solicitor Duncan Henderson said: "He accepts he was immature and driving beyond his capabilities.
"But he has taken courses to make him a better driver although he knows he will be disqualified today."
Laing who's now aged 19 and lives at Glassgreen Place, Elgin, was ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
He was also banned from the road for 18 months.
