Judge warns Grantown motorist ‘speeding from police was sheer folly’

A police patrol pursued a Saab after seeing it speeding towards Grantown at 4am in the morning.
But the driver, 25 year old Aaron Mair of Beachan Court in the village, panicked because he had consumed a couple of pints and accelerated away to begin a short chase through the streets, Inverness Sheriff Court heard.
Fiscal depute Sharon Ralph said Mair drove at speeds of around 60mph in 20mph and 30mph zones on Woodlands Terrace, Woodlands Drive and Grant Road before eventually coming to a stop.
"He left his vehicle and hid underneath another car leaving his vehicle unattended and locked, Police shouted to him to come out of hiding. He came out and said: ‘It was me, sorry boys’.”
However Sheriff Gary Aitken was told that Mair need not have panicked because a breath test for alcohol proved negative.
Mair admitted driving dangerously for road conditions on March 30 this year, negotiating corners at excessive speed and failing to maintain proper lane discipline.
Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said: "He is at a loss why he behaved in that way that night."
Sheriff Aitken fined Mair £840 and banned him from driving for a year.
He must then pass the extended test of competency before he gets behind the wheel again.
The Sheriff told him: "Panicking when you see a police car behind you is sheer folly. The only person who suffered that night is you."