Milkman drove wrong way around roundabout

Delivery driver Laurence Brown (59) negotiated the West Linton roundabout on the wrong side of the road on the A702 at around 2am on November 18.

He already had six penalty points on his licence and faced a ban under the 12-point totting-up procedure.

However, at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday, Sheriff Peter Paterson imposed just five points, as well as a £400 fine, so that Brown, of Derwent Avenue, was able to keep his employment with a dairy firm.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said there had been previous incidents at the roundabout.

Brown’s lawyer said his client felt it was more prudent to take the action he did as the seven-and-a-half-tonne lorry was fully laden.

He added: “The junction had a very good view to oncoming traffic. There is no suggestion of other vehicles being inconvenienced, but he accepts his guilt.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson said: “This particular locus is well known to the court for various reasons and there have been a number of proseuctions.”