‘Santa Claus’ charged with road traffic offences

A MAN dressed as Santa who allegedly crashed a Nissan Micra through a garden hedge, has been charged with road traffic offences.

Police Scotland's Tayside division confirmed a man had been charged. Picture: Johnston Press

The early-morning smash into the garden of a pensioner’s home in Douglas, Dundee, on Friday the 13th December, sparked a city-wide police hunt for the man dressed as Father Christmas.

The blue Nissan Micra ploughed through the roadside hedge of William Morren’s Ballindean Road home shortly before 5.30am last week.

Witnesses to the crash said the driver of the car left the scene in a traditional red Santa suit - minus the beard.

Police have now charged a 25-year-old man in connection with the incident.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland Tayside Division said a report was being submitted to the procurator fiscals.

She said today: “Tayside Division can confirm that a 25-year-old man has been charged in connection with an incident at Douglas on Friday December 13.

“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

The abandoned blue car was left stuck in the hedge for an hour-and-a-half with its engine running and the lights on.

Local residents and shop workers reported seeing it recovered by a tow truck just before 7am.

Mr Morren was woken up by a loud bang outside his home.

The 66-year-old saw the driver get out of the car and described him as a man in a Santa outfit.

He said the costume had the proper black boots, but was missing the customary long white beard.

Mr Morren’s garden suffered substantial damage, with his hedge left with a gaping hole through the middle where the car hit.

It was not the Christmas present he was hoping for and the event did little to improve the pensioner’s opinion of the festive period.

He said: “I hate Christmas anyway because a close family member died a few years ago.

“Now I hate Santa even more. He brought me the wrong present this year.”