An off-duty paramedic clocked driving at almost 100mph has been spared a roads ban after the court heard of his “great contribution to society”.
Elgin-based ambulance driver Kristofer Wood was originally charged with dangerous driving at 127mph – an offence that would have resulted in an automatic ban.
However, he was allowed to keep his licence after the Crown amended the speed on the charge sheet to 99mph and downgraded the charge to careless driving.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard how the 26-year-old was caught on the B9089 Kinloss-to-Burghead road near Roseisle at around 7.30pm on April 18 last year.
Originally clocked at 127mph
Fiscal depute Karen Poke said officers were carrying out speed checks at the time.
“They observed the vehicle travelling towards them at speed,” she said.
“They formed the opinion it was over the speed limit so did a speed check and it was clocked at 99mph in a 60mph limit zone.
“Officers activated the emergency lights and noted that the vehicle was seen to slow and stop.
“Before being clocked on the device the car was seen to overtake another vehicle.”
Wood initially denied a dangerous driving charge but pled guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving at a trial diet.
‘He’s a professional driver’
Defence agent Richard Freeman said his client had been driving for eight years and has been working as an ambulance driver with the Scottish Ambulance Service for the past three-and-half years.
“He also received certification to work as emergency response as an ambulance driver in 2019,” he said. “He is a professional driver.
“This does seem to be a one-off error of judgement on his part.
“He had been out with his friend for something to eat and was on his way home.
“It was an act of crass stupidity by him. He pulled out to overtake the vehicle, he didn’t know what speed was there but he carried on accelerating after pulling in instead of slowing down. He sped up.
“On approach to the police vehicle, he started to slow down.”
The solicitor stressed the roads were quiet and the overtake took place with few other cars around.
‘Seconds of madness’
“It was a matter of seconds of madness on his part. He appreciates a disqualification will be foremost in the court’s mind.”
Mr Freeman asked his client be “punished in such a way that allows him to keep his licence” before presenting glowing testimonials from Wood’s ambulance service boss.
The court was also told how Wood is an RNLI volunteer of seven years and is currently the only paramedic in their team.
“Without his licence, he wouldn’t be able to carry out that function,” he added.
“For someone who is so young, he has led a very productive life. He has been a great contributor to society.”
Upon sentencing, Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood said he knew the section of road well.
“It’s a long straight stretch with a lot of minor roads off it so it’s potentially a very dangerous part of road to go overtaking and speeding with a blind summit in front of you too.”
He fined Wood, of Clochan, Buckie, £500 and handed him nine penalty points on his licence.
“That’s the maximum, the discount, in this case, is that you are not being disqualified,” the sheriff told Wood.
“You are now literally driving on eggshells for the next three years because any breach of the Road Traffic Act will bring about another three points which will inevitably lead to a totting-up disqualification.”
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