Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has escaped a driving ban despite being clocked speeding for the third time in just over two years.
The former Scotland international admitted speeding on his way home from managing his team through an away match in the Highlands.
The ex-West Bromwich Albion and Rangers player was caught driving at 80 miles per hour in his powerful £67,000 Range Rover.
Perth’s Justice of the Peace court was told today that McInnes had previously committed speeding offences in November 2013 and August 2014.
The court was told he had six live penalty points on his licence and needed to use his car because he spent most of the week working away from home.
The 45-year-old father-of-three, who pled guilty by letter to driving at 80 mph on the dual carriageway between Perth and Stirling on 17 January this year.
The cup-winning Aberdeen manager had been driving home to Johnstone in Renfrewshire when he was caught breaking the 70 mph limit between Tibbermore and Dunning.
He had been in Dingwall earlier in the day to watch his team beat Ross County 3-2 in an SPFL match and was captured by a speed camera on the dual carriageway in Perthshire.
McInnes, who also played for Dundee United and Millwall, and has managed St Johnstone and Bristol City, was not present in court.
However, his representative agent sent a letter pleading guilty, and told the court: “He was returning home. The traffic conditions were light and visibility was clear.
“He is a married man with three school age children and he is in full time employment. He works away from home for the greater part of each week.
“He was made a conditional offer of a fixed penalty. However, he was working away from home when this arrived and unfortunately it was not returned within the relevant time frame.
“The speed was within the parameters for a fixed penalty. I would ask the court to restrict the number of points to the minimum,” Diane Turner of rradar said.
“He is in a position to pay the fine imposed within 28 days.”
Fiscal depute Bill Kermode said there was a previous conviction for a motoring offence, understood to be driving on a prohibited road, for which he was fined £260 in 2009.
Mr Kermode said: “This was a speed camera case. At the time it was dark and I can’t say what the traffic was light from the images. The accused identified himself as the driver when required to do so.”
The court clerk noted there were six points on his licence from speeding offences and McInnes had a further three points added today, along with a £150 fine.
