A MOTORIST caught speeding in the centre of Helensburgh has been banned from driving for six months.

Stephen McFall was sentenced last week after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to driving without due care and attention, and without consideration for other road-users, last year.

Witnesses saw the 35-year-old driving in James Street, West King Street, William Street and West Princes Street on June 16, 2018.

McFall, of St Modan’s Way in Rosneath, also admitted charges of driving without insurance and failing to appear at a hearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on January 31, having been released on bail in November.

When McFall returned to the same court on Thursday, April 18, for sentencing, his solicitor, Kirstene MacRae, said: “He accepts he was completely inappropriate in the way he drove the vehicle. But we are dealing with a very brief period of driving.

“He is holding down a job, looking after his family and has caring responsibilities.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry replied: “I fully accept that there are going to be consequences, but he is the person who is entirely responsible for the consequences of his actions.

“This is not a case where I am minded to impose points.”

Turning to address McFall directly, the sheriff said: “You now recognise your driving on June 16 was wholly inappropriate.

“I have seen people charged with dangerous driving in remarkably similar circumstances.

“This is an example of bad driving that has to be dealt with by way of disqualification.”

McFall was banned from holding or obtaining a licence until October for careless driving and given a fine of £225.

For driving without insurance, he was fined a further £150 and told his licence would be endorsed; and for failing to appear in court he was hit with an additional penalty of £100, taking the total fine to £475.

He was told to pay at a rate of £50 per month.