A man has admitted engaging in culpable and reckless conduct after his car burst into flames during a memorial event for a Hollywood star.
Niall Kinghorn was fined £750 this morning at Aberdeen Sheriff Court by Sheriff Richard McFarlane who told him he carried out an act of “crass stupidity”.
The 20-year-old had been attending a memorial event for movie star Paul Walker at the Beach Boulevard Retail Park on December 14 last year when he started to rev his engine repeatedly.
As a result, the engine caught fire, engulfing the vehicle in flames to the danger of others nearby.
The court heard that around 10pm the car park had been full of people in cars and crowds had gathered around as smoke emerged from Kinghorn’s vehicle.
As the apprentice joiner’s bonnet was open those gathered could see that his engine was glowing red.
Fiscal depute Karen Dow said that Kinghorn, of 25 Cormack Park, Rothienorman, Inverurie, was warned that his car could catch fire at any minute however he continued to rev his engine before it burst into flames.
Sheriff McFarlane said: “I simply do not know what to make of this get together with auto enthusiasts.
“Part of the get together was to pay respects to the deceased actor.
“I have never heard of ‘respects’ in this regard as to what you did on this occasion.
“Presumably you are counting your blessings that no other damage was sustained to other people’s property and there was no injury to any other participants.”
The 40-year-old Fast and Furious actor Paul Walker died on November 30 after a car crash in Los Angeles.
He had been a passenger in a Porsche driven by his friend, Roger Rodas, who also died in the accident.