Speeders' driving 'outrageous'

It could have had "serious consequences" said sheriff
A SHERIFF described the conduct of two road racers whose speed exceeded 80mph on a main route in the county, as “outrageous” and could have had serious consequences.
First offenders, Robert McTurk and Gary Yeomans were arrested after they sped past an unmarked police car on a straight leading into Thurso. The 23-year-olds admitted driving carelessly and were each fined £450 and incurred nine penalty points.
The incident, Wick Sheriff Court heard, today, occurred on on March 17, on the Stainland stretch of the A9 where there’s a 60mph speed restriction in force.
David Barclay, prosecuting, said that the two accused were “in close proximity to each other” when they overtook the police car, shortly after 5pm and there was fortunately no other traffic in the vicinity. Officers reported that the two cars were clearly in excess of the speed limit and while it could not be calculated exactly, they had been travelling at over 80mph.
Solicitor Neil Wilson said: “Both accused accept that their driving fell well below that of careful and competent drivers.”
McTurk, of 4 Sinclair Street, Halkirk, was said to be employed as a security officer at the Vulcan submarine testing establishment near Dounreay. Yeoman, is an army mechanic currently stationed at Salisbury. His home address is 6 Briar Gardens, Mintlaw.
Mr Wilson appealed for a non-disqualification sentence as bans would threaten both accuseds’ jobs.
Sheriff Andrew Berry observed that the charge had been reduced from dangerous driving but commented that while the level of bad driving was less at the careless stage, it had been “outrageous”.
He continued: “You were driving in close proximity to each other and that is not appropriate in any road in the UK where the maximum speed is 70mph. No-one should drive the way you did, especially close together. Whether it was a straight stretch of road or not, it could well have contributed to serious injury and worse sort of situations which are regularly experienced throughout the country.”
The sheriff said that what made matters even more remarkable was the fact that the accused had driven in such a fashion when their licences were important to them.
Sheriff Berry added that he had been persuaded, only just, not to disqualify the pair.