Inverness delivery driver who crashed into a garden wall dodges driving ban, court hears

A DELIVERY driver dodged a driving ban after admitting crashing his car into a garden wall in heavy rain.

Steven Little (30), of Duncraig Street, Inverness had originally been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving on the A9349 near Nairn on October 21, 2019.

But he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of careless driving and was fined £900. His clean licence was also endorsed with nine penalty points.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that a couple were in the living room of their property near Househill when they heard a “huge bang”.

It was during poor weather, with heavy rain and surface water.

Fiscal depute Robert Weir told Sheriff Margaret Neilson: “They felt a tremor in their floor and when they went out to investigate, saw chunks of masonry in their garden and trees knocked down.

“They saw Little pull his passenger from his car, he muttered something and then walked away. Police traced him walking along the road and he was taken to hospital.”

Mr Weir added that the passenger, who refused to give police a statement, suffered a liver laceration and two fractured ribs and the wall was replaced by insurance.

Defence solicitor Clare Russell said: “It happened at a notorious accident hotspot where this type of thing has happened before. He accepts he should have paid more attention to the weather conditions and the bend.

“He removed the passenger, checked on him and walked away. He was suffering from concussion hence this behaviour.”