Fife man ignored driving ban twice in a fortnight

A Dunfermline man was caught driving while disqualified twice within a fortnight.

The offences occurred shortly after Peter Smith had been banned for driving through red lights as police pursued him.

Smith (40), of Dalcross Way, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court. His solicitor said he “fell apart” after his relationship ended and he lost his job.

Smith admitted that on 2nd February at Clunie Road, Dunfermline, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by forcing his way into the house and demanding car keys in a aggressive manner.

He then drove in Clunie Road and Abbeyview while disqualified and without insurance.

Smith also admitted that on 15th February he drove in Blacklaw Road and Aberdour Road, Dunfermline, he drove while disqualified and without insurance.

The first incident involved Smith going to the home of his former partner and demanded his car keys, even though he had been banned from driving in January.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said, “He arrived at 1.45pm when children were in the house.”

He was saying he wanted his “f****** car keys”, added the depute.

“He forced his way into the house for a short time before she got him out. She then saw the car keys were missing and so was the car.”

Police were contacted and stopped him around 30 minutes later, said the depute.

Defence solicitor Jenny Simpson said, “His frame of mind was that he was just not considering the implications. He was so low nothing mattered to him. His head was all over the place.”

Sheriff Kevin Veal imposed a community payback order with two years’ supervision and banned him from driving for two years.

The initial 12-month ban was imposed on Smith after he ignored the blue lights of police vehicles indicating for him to stop and drove through two sets of red traffic lights in his bid to avoid the officers.