Moray windfarm worker crashed, drove off, dumped car and gave police false name
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A MORAY wind turbine technician's actions after crashing a car got him fined and banned from driving.
Kyle Edwards (24) crashed his car on James Street in Lossiemouth on November 6 last year, fiscal depute Karen Poke told Elgin Sheriff Court on Thursday (August 24).
He admitted four charges linked to the crash, which included driving an "extensively damaged" vehicle with deployed airbags and deflated tyres.
Edwards, of Prospect View, also pleaded guilty to trying to evade detection by driving away from the scene of an accident and to giving the police a false name.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood fined the 24-year-old a total of £1000 and banned him from driving for a year.
On the day of the crash, a nearby resident heard a "bang" and saw that the renewables worker had caused "substantial damage" to her wall.
When the woman went outside to see what had happened, Ms Poke added, the car was "still running with keys in the ignition,"
"Airbags had been deployed, but there was no sign of the driver."
After a brief search for the driver, the witness: "saw a male running along James Street towards the car" and "watched as the male drove away" before she called police.
Edwards had driven a short distance to Argyle Street, where police found the car "abandoned with the engine running and the keys in the ignition," Ms Poke added.
Due to the crashed vehicle's condition, police started to organise its recovery.
But, as efforts continued, a car's passenger "appeared to be taking interest" in the recovery.
Police later spotted Edwards in the back seat of the same car, stopping the vehicle and asking for his details.
Ms Poke said he gave police the name Kyle Strathdee but, after being ordered out of the car, "confirmed that he had given a false name and should not have done this."
Solicitor Stephen Carty, representing Edwards, said the "very foolish decision to move the vehicle" and the "very stupid decision to give a false name" happened because the 24-year-old had "panicked".
“It’s the first time he has been involved in that situation," Mr Carty said.
“Of course, the police have rightly been made aware, and he gave a false name.
“After being pushed very gently, he then cooperates with everything that the police ask of him and admits having made a very foolish decision to move the vehicle and having made the very stupid decision to give a false name."
Mr Carty said Edwards' role as a wind turbine technician "involves driving to remote sites" and asked Sheriff Fleetwood to reduce the driving ban imposed as far as possible.
“In fairness to his employer, his employer would very much like to keep him on depending on the result of this case," Mr Carty added.
The court also heard the dangerous driver was well-placed to pay a fine, based on his £2400 monthly income.
Edwards was fined a total of £1000, which Sheriff Fleetwood agreed he could repay at £100 a month.
