Driver hit 147mph on trip to buy tobacco

Published on Tuesday 27 January 2009 20:59

A SCOTTISH businessman drove at 147mph on a notorious road to buy tobacco for friends at a music festival.

John McAllister reached the highest car speed recorded in the Highlands last summer as he returned to the Rock Ness concert on the shores of Loch Ness.

The 42-year-old, who runs a horticultural firm with outlets in London, Glasgow and Aberdeen, yesterday received a two-year ban and an 800 fine after he admitted driving dangerously on the A9 at Daviot on 8 June.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told he had been attending the festival at Dores when his friends ran out of tobacco.

The father-of-two decided to drive in his high-powered Mercedes to a cash and carry outlet in Glasgow.

As he returned north at about 6:30pm he was seen travelling at more than twice the 70mph limit on a notorious stretch of the dual carriageway at Daviot, just south of Inverness.

Heather Swan, the depute fiscal, said police officers were carrying out speed checks when they saw the north-bound Mercedes racing towards them.

There were gasps in the courtroom when she told Sheriff Ian Abercrombie that McAllister, of Alloa, was clocked doing 147mph. The fiscal added that the car was approaching a junction for the turn-off to Fort Augustus.

She said: "He was followed and stopped. The driver identified himself as the accused and was informed of the speed restriction on the road. He was cautioned and charged and made no reply."

The defence lawyer, Craig Wood, said his client ran a specialised horticultural supply business. He bought the Mercedes in 2005 when his company was doing well, but Mr Wood added: "At the moment his business is not doing so well and his income is between 10,000 and 15,000 a year.

"Earlier this year he closed his Aberdeen outlet and now employs five people. He also has an imminent divorce and his wife will be looking for a share of the business.

"There is a letter from his accountants which sets out the difficulties he will have if disqualified. I have pointed out that it is not a question of if, but a fact that it will be lost."

Mr Wood said the weather at the time of the offence had been dry and the road surface was good.

Sheriff Abercrombie told McAllister: "This is a very excessive speed indeed. You are very fortunate no other incident happened as a result of this speed."

The sheriff ordered him to resit the extended driving test after the ban.

Inspector John Smith, the head of Northern Constabulary's road traffic section, said: "The 800 fine and two-year driving ban imposed on John MacAllister at Inverness Sheriff court for driving at 147mph reflect the extremely reckless nature of his driving and the danger in which he put other motorists travelling on a busy section of the A9.

"His actions show that it is driver behaviour which leads to many collisions. Had he lost control at this speed, he would inevitably have been killed and possibly killed other road users."