Badly behaved biker apologises to Edinburgh sheriff as he is banned from the road

A Prestonpans motorcyclist apologised to a sheriff for his behaviour after being banned from the road for 80 months.

John Phillips told the sheriff he was “ashamed” after he was sentenced to the long ban on a charge of dangerous driving.

He had previously admitted driving a car dangerously on the A720 city bypass during which he collided with a vehicle while unfit to be on the road through drink or drugs.

Phillips moved between lanes without indicating, crashed into a car driven by Robert Burgess and then drove off without stopping on the busy road on October 18 this year.

Colours like those worn in court by John Phillips

The 52-year-old biker also failed to stop at a stop line, mounted the kerb and struck a bush during the incident.

He pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving and to driving while unfit to do so at a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on November 27 this year.

Philips attended court wearing a leather jacket with a Tribe patch emblazoned on the back, the ‘colours’ of a group of bikers closely affiliated to the West Coast Blue Angels, which describes itself as ‘Europe’s oldest outlaw motorcycle club’.

Tribe MCC is a motorcycle club with many members connected to 12 chapters throughout Scotland.

Solicitor Murray Robertson, defending, said his client was facing “a very serious matter” and he was aware he was “in a very serious position” regarding his liberty.

Mr Robertson added his actions that day “could have been tragic” and said to the sheriff any discount to the sentence should be “not sending him to prison today”.

Sheriff Kenneth Campbell QC told the biker: “It could have been a great deal more serious. I have read the social work report and the medical report and I take account of those.

“I am pleased you engaged well with the social worker in the preparation of the report.”

Sheriff Campbell ordered Phillips to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work and banned him for the road for 80 months.

Following the sheriff’s judgement Phillips told the court: “I’m a motorcyclist and have been for years. I am so ashamed.”

Phillips pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the A720 City Bypass and to driving while unfit through drink or drugs on October 18 this year.

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