A HADDINGTON motorist had a guilty plea retracted and an interim driving ban overturned after he changed his plea last week.

Andrew Gilpin was alleged to have been involved in an altercation with another motorist as he drove his vehicle along the A1 near to Haddington in September 2019.

Gilpin, of Hawthornbank Road, was charged with driving dangerously by allegedly repeatedly tailgating the other vehicle and flashing his headlights.

He was also alleged to have undertaken the vehicle and caused his car to collide with the vehicle as they made their way along the road.

The 57-year-old had pleaded guilty to the charge when he made an appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year.

But when Gilpin appeared back at the Capital court last Wednesday, his solicitor told Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss that he wanted to change his guilty plea to one of not guilty.

The court heard that Gilpin did not have legal representation at the time of offering a guilty plea.

But he had now employed a solicitor and, following consultations, wanted to change his original plea.

Sheriff Auchincloss agreed to the motion to reverse the plea to one of not guilty.

The sheriff also reversed the interim driving ban and set new dates for Gilpin to stand trial on the road traffic charges next year.

Gilpin will now return to court for trial on the dangerous driving charges on March 2 next year.