Crash driver tried to put blame on his wife

An UNINSURED driver who caused two accidents left his number plate embedded in the door of one of the cars he hit.

But when police went to Mariusz Szmalec’s home to ask him about his dangerous driving, he blamed his wife – and claimed she had just left the country.

It was only after police spoke to witnesses who saw Szmalec driving his partner’s blue BMW 323i that he told the truth.

Szmalec, 30, of Armadale, West Lothian, was sentenced at Livingston Sheriff Court yesterday.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to driving dangerously and without insurance in Livingston on 19 August last year. He also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by claiming he was not driving the car at the time, and breaching bail by failing to appear for trial.

Raymond McMenamin, defending, said Szmalec had “panicked” after the collisions and had continued driving.

He said: “He expresses his regret for his actions. He acknowledges the danger he caused on the road and ultimately pled guilty without going to trial.”

Sheriff Douglas Kinloch told Szmalec: “Your actions that night were highly irresponsible. You put people at risk and you also show by your previous convictions that you have paid little regard to the road traffic law.

“For all those reasons, I have considered imposing a prison sentence, but as there was no injury on this occasion that will not happen.”

Szmalec was fined £200 for the bail offence and ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work under a community payback order for the motoring offences.

He was also banned from driving for 32 months.