THE erratic driving of a speeding motorist from was caused by him panicking about running out of fuel.

However, a sheriff was not impressed by the excuse given by James Thorburn.

Thorburn, of Mountjoy Terrace, Musselburgh, was not present at Dunfermline Sheriff Court but a guilty plea was submitted by his solicitor.

He admitted that on September 19, 2019, on the M90 southbound near Dunfermline, he drove a car without due care and attention, exceeded the speed limit and undertook another vehicle on a slip road.

Solicitor Roshni Joshi said that her client’s explanation was that his low fuel level warning light came on.

She went on: “He was concerned he would run out of fuel. He was looking on his sat-nav for the closest petrol station. That’s his explanation. He panicked.”

But Sheriff Alastair Brown said: “How would that have helped? Driving faster isn’t going to help."

He fined Thorburn £300 and endorsed his driving licence with six penalty points.