Dangerous driver banned from road after injuring four on A68
Last updated 8th Jan 2024
A 51-year-old man who left four people injured after colliding with two vehicles in the Scottish Borders has been handed a 12-month home curfew and disqualified from driving for three years.
It follows an incident on the A68 between Oxton and Earlston on February 2nd, 2021, during which he repeatedly swerved onto the opposite side of the road.
Paul McGinley, of Loanburn Avenue, Penicuik, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving shortly before his case was due to go to trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court.
According to court papers, he caused serious injury and permanent impairment to one man, serious injury to another, and injury to two more.
McGinley also suffered significant injuries and entered the dock with the aid of a stick, when he returned for sentence today (Monday).
He must remain at home between the hours of 7pm and 7am.
Sheriff Peter Paterson added McGinley should not drive again until he has been medically examined, to ensure he’s fit to drive.
Careless driving
A 41-year-old van driver who failed to stop for another vehicle waiting to turn on the A702 in Peeblesshire - causing it to collide with oncoming traffic - has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and banned from the road for 12 months.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard the other driver broke her arm and tooth in the smash, which required pins and plates to put back together.
The woman - who we’re not naming - had been behind the wheel of a Range Rover when she saw the Mercedes Sprinter approaching from behind, but was unable to avoid a collision.
It happened at the junction to Garvald Village, near West Linton, around 1pm on March the 21st last year.
Douglas Mclean, from Carluke, admitted causing serious injury by careless driving. He blamed a lack of concentration, pointing out he’d been driving since 5am that day.
Dangerous driving
A 19-year-old man has admitted driving dangerously in the Borders in two different cars less than a year apart.
Keith Kitching, from Cardrona, drove at excessive speed and repeatedly overtook when it was unsafe to do so on the A703 road between Peebles and Leadburn on October 4th, 2022.
He also carried out unsafe overtaking manoeuvres on the A72 between Galashiels and Innerleithen on July the 18th last year - forcing other road users to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
However, a not guilty plea to a third charge of dangerous driving on the A72 between Galashiels and Walkerburn on January 27th was accepted by the Crown.
Sentence was deferred at Selkirk Sheriff Court for background reports until February the 5th, and Kitching has been disqualified from driving meantime.
Letter plea
A 32-year-old learner driver who took a car without the owner's consent and then collided with another vehicle, and a wall, in the Borders has admitted a charge of dangerous driving.
Daryl Bevis, from Penicuik, Midlothian, took the vehicle from the town's Cowan Place on July 26th last year, and then drove it on the A7 between Stow and Galashiels - without insurance or the assistance of a qualified driver, while only holding a provisional licence.
According to court papers, he repeatedly swerved across the road, drove on the verge and at excessive speeds, on the wrong side of the road.
Bevis pled guilty to the offences in a letter to Selkirk Sheriff Court and sentence was deferred for a personal appearance until January 22nd.
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page - https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/