Banned driver is given probation

May 6 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A DISQUALIFIED driver caught driving a quad bike in Philipstoun has been placed on probation.

Police officers stopped Zachariah Robinson after he pulled out in front of them at traffic lights on the B8046 just after 2pm on March 24.

When they carried out a background check on the 21-year-old they discovered he was banned from driving and had no insurance for the bike.

Last week at Livingston Sheriff Court Robinson, whose address was given as Saughton Mains Place, Edinburgh, pled guilty to the road traffic offences.

His solicitor, Julia McPartlin, told the court her client had already spent six days in custody for the offence.

“There was nothing in the manner of his driving which drew him to the attention of the police,” Ms McPartlin said.

“As a man who is disqualified from driving he should have been more careful and he accepts that now.

“There is a history of offending which started when he was a fairly young man and clearly it is nothing to be proud of. He has spent a number of spells in custody.

“The recent period he spent on remand was particularly horrific for him and he was subjected to a vicious assault. It had a real and deep effect on him.

“I know he has been given community-based disposals in the past but he realises now that he has to take a more mature approach to options given to him by the court.”

Placing Robinson on probation for 18 months and banning him from the roads for three years Sheriff Douglas Kinloch said: “It is very sad to see that in the past you have been getting involved in taking drugs and involved in getting into trouble. There are some serious convictions in there for which you have served custodial sentences so it was more than just getting into trouble.

“I hope it is not still too late for you to make something of your life as you have been in and out of detention over the years.

“Because this is a road traffic matter which is really quite different from the convictions you have I am proposing to put you on probation.”