A man has been banned from the roads after mistakenly hitting a pedestrian by reversing his car instead of driving forwards.
James Walker accidently crashed into the rear of another motorist while in the car park of The House Spa on Great Western Road on June 8, 2014.
However, when he was “challenged” by the female owner, the 31-year-old suffered a panic attack behind the wheel and put his foot on the accelerator.
Instead of driving forward to park in a space, he accidently reversed backwards, causing his wing mirror to strike Ineke Reybaz, knocking her to the ground.
After the collision, he panicked even more, subsequently crashing into a wall in the car park before driving away.
Yesterday, Walker appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to be sentenced for driving dangerously and failing to give his name and address following a collision.
He had previously admitted the charges.
Fiscal depute John Richardson said: “The witness had been dropping off children at a party at the locus and the accused had been there for some other purpose.
“The complainer became aware that his vehicle had collided with her rear of her vehicle. As she alights from her car, she sees there is some damage and challenges the accused to provide his details and asks him to park up.
“He does not do so and reverses at speed causing his wing mirror to hit a young woman, knocking her to the ground, before colliding with a wall at the rear of the car park”
Mr Richardson said Ms Reybaz had to be taken to hospital for treatment on bruising to her shoulder and elbow but did not suffer serious injury.
Representing Walker, of 25 Lennon Place, Aberdeen, solicitor Shane Campbell said his client became unsettled by the way the woman in the car spoke to him.
He said: “He was concerned by her manner. She was quite aggressive. He took a panic attack at that stage and left.
“His intention was to drive forward and park up, but he forgot his car was in reverse and when he pushed his foot on the accelerator, he reversed at speed and the collision took place.
Sheriff William Taylor disqualified Walker from driving for one year for the dangerous driving and fined him £100.
He also allowed him six months to save up £200 to be paid in compensation for striking the initial car.
