A TRANENT motorist has been banned from the road after driving dangerously by pulling out in front of a vehicle which was carrying a young child.

Craig Brown caused the vehicle with the toddler inside to swerve and mount a kerb in an effort to avoid a collision near to his home at Muirpark Road in March last year.

Brown failed to stop following the incident, leading to the driver of the other car following him through the town, eventually catching up with Brown’s vehicle and pulling his car keys from the ignition.

Last Tuesday, Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that the motorist was driving on the B6355 towards Tranent and had his two-year-old son in the back of the car.

Witnesses saw a blue vehicle driven by Brown pull out from a junction near to Muirpark Road and the motorist had to take “evasive action” to avoid a collision.

The driver had to swerve and mount a kerb to avoid a crash and his child was said to have become “extremely upset” at the incident.

Brown did not stop and carried on driving on Ormiston Road, and the driver who had to swerve decided to follow him.

The pursuit carried on through several streets in the town but 25-year-old Brown had to come to a stop at a set of traffic lights, where he was confronted by the other driver.

'Sped off'

Brown was then said to have “sped off” towards High Street, where the irate driver caught up with him again, this time on foot.

The man managed to grab the keys from Brown’s ignition and Brown was said to have been “unaware” of the incident earlier.

Police were contacted and arrived at about 3pm, where they found Brown in the driver’s seat and two others in the vehicle with him.

Solicitor Joe Boyd said that his client was coming out of the street where he lived and was driving the short distance to the local Asda store about one mile away.

Mr Boyd said that “the sun had partially obscured” Brown’s vision as he pulled out of the junction and that “essentially he didn’t see the car” coming towards him.

Evasive action

Mr Boyd added: “It was noted by him the complainer’s car hit the kerb and he accepts he caused the car to take evasive action to avoid him colliding with the complainer’s car.”

The lawyer said that Brown had parked in the Asda car park, when the other driver “ran up to his car before he could get out” and grabbed his keys from the ignition.

The court was told that Brown was “struggling quite significantly with his mental health” at the time due to not working in the construction industry during the lockdown period.

Mr Boyd said not working had had “a devastating impact” on Brown’s health and he had turned to taking “alcohol and other substances to self-medicate”.

The court was also told that any road ban would result in Brown having “to give up his employment” as he needed to drive to Livingston for work and the public transport system was inadequate to get him there in time.

'Matter of misjudgment'

Sheriff John Cook said: “This was a matter of misjudgment on your part. Bad driving was exhibited throughout this, so much so that a member of the public followed you due to the manner of your driving.

“The court does have to consider whether a custodial sentence is appropriate or if there is an alternative to a custodial sentence.”

The sheriff decided “on balance” that a custodial sentence was not appropriate and banned Brown from driving for 18 months and ordered him to pay a total fine of £940.

He was also told he would have to sit the extended driving test before he was allowed back on the road.

Brown admitted driving a vehicle dangerously on various roads in Tranent on March 21 last year.