Culloden security officer show off motorbiker given roads ban

A SECURITY officer who “showed off” to pals by doing hazardous tricks on his motorcycle has been banned from driving for a year.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 31-year-old Luke Stirling of Galloway Drive, Culloden, did a couple of “wheelies” – travelling on the rear wheel – in the Stoneyfield car park on May 7 last year.

Sheriff Gary Aitken heard that Stirling also accelerated into a speed bump and his bike’s two wheels left the ground for a short distance.

Stirling admitted driving carelessly and was also fined £720. The court heard he has since sold the bike.

Stirling’s antics were seen by police officers on mobile patrol in the area and when arrested, he told them he was “showing off” in front of his friends.

Defence solicitor Rory Gowans said: “He got caught up in what was going on there that night. He appreciates now how stupid this was.”

Sheriff Aitken said he was tempted to order Stirling to sit the extended tests of competence before getting his licence back.

But he decided against it despite Stirling’s poor driving record, which was admitted.

The sheriff told him: “Driving a motor-cycle at excessive speed at 9.45 at night in a retail car park is not a good idea.

“There were other people in there at the time. You cannot control a motorcycle properly with one wheel on the ground and certainly not with two in the air.

“You are lucky you did not kill yourself or someone else.”