MORAY DRIVERS CAUGHT speeding had found themselves facing possible bans at two Sheriff Court houses this week.
At Elgin Sheriff Court Gary Stephen, 25, escaped a ban after the court leaned he had been caught speeding on the Lossiemouth to Elgin road earlier this year.
A police speed trap caught Stephen driving his Vauxhall Corsa at 96mph on the 60mph stretch of road. However, Sheriff Chris Dickson took note of an appeal by Stephen’s solicitor, Brent Lockie, who said that as his client was just four feet tall, a ban would severely limit his chances of finding work.
Fiscal Ruaridh McAllister had earlier told the court that police officers carrying out speed checks near Sunnybank on the A941 on January 21 clocked Stephen at the excessive speed in the dark and on a road that was wet with poor visibility at the time.
Mr Lockie asked Sheriff Dickson to show leniency as his client was finding it difficult to get work and was currently searching for driving jobs.
Stephen was fined £165 and had four penalty points added to his licence, but escaped a ban.
Meanwhile at Inverness Sheriff Court Moray farmer George Elder, 63, also faced a possible with Sheriff Margaret Neilson being told that he had been caught at 87mph on the 40mph zone.
Elder, from Brodie, was travelling on the A96 towards Nairn on December 19 when he was clocked speeding. Noting that he had previously had a clean driving licence, Sheriff Neilson imposed a £600 fine and ordered seven penalty points to be added to his licence.