Speeder the worst of three "extraordinary" cases

Reached 125 mph on Dounreay road

A SHERIFF, who dealt with his third case in two days, involving drivers who exceeded 100mph described the speeds as “extraordinary”.
In the dock was Thurso baker Douglas Johnston who was clocked at 125mph and is believed to be the highest speeding driver to come before Wick Sheriff Court.
Johnson, 50, admitted driving his Madza car dangerously. He was caught by police activating their blue light, on a long straight stretch of the A836 near Dounreay, on August 16. He was fined £450 and banned for a year.
David Barclay prosecuting said that there were houses and junctions along the undulating route. He added that when spoken to by officers, Johnston, of 34 Upper Burnside Drive, Thurso accepted his speed had been “entirely unacceptable.”
Solicitor Neil Wilson said that disqualification for Johnson, a partner with his brother in their bakery business, would cause him considerable inconvenience and he would have to make alterntative arrangements for deliveries and getting to work.
Sheriff Andrew Berry commented that it was the third case involving dangerous driving to come before him in two days, featuring “extraordinary speeds” which were “wholly inappropriate".
He told Johnston, a first offender, that his speed had been more than twice the limit of 60mph and that anyone would realise the potential harm, these could have caused.
At the same court sitting, lifeguard Alan Larnach, 23, of 12 Golf View Place, Lybster village, was fined £300 and banned for a year after he admitted driving dangerously at 114mph. On Tuesday, shop assistant Rehan Amin, 25 of Gunn’s Terrace, Wick, was fined £400 and banned for a year for driving at 116mph. He denied dangerous driving but he was found guilty after a trial.
Both drivers were caught on the main A99 at Hempriggs near Wick, last year.
Johnston, Larnach and Amin all have to sit and pass an extended driving test before getting their licences back.