Cop caught speeding at 105mph escapes ban - because of row with wife

Jan 15 2009

A COP caught driving at 105mph was spared a ban yesterday after a sheriff heard he was angry with his wife at the time of the offence.

Grampian Police constable Alan Bothwell was clocked by colleagues from the Central Scotland force as he roared north on the M9 near Stirling.

The courts routinely ban speeders who do more than 100mph unless they have an exceptional excuse.

But Stirling sheriff Paul Arthurson gave Bothwell a £600 fine and six points on his licence after the cop's lawyer told him about his client's marriage troubles and depression.

Solicitor John McLeod said Bothwell was living with his mum in Glasgow when he was caught speeding on September 25 last year.

After a row on the phone with his wife, who was living in Aberdeenshire, the 37-year-old officer got into his Vauxhall Astra Sxi and set off for the north-east. Mr McLeod said Bothwell was upset and "in an enraged mood" following the argument and allowed his speed to creep up.

Police with a speed camera fitted to their patrol car caught him doing 105.3mph at the Chartershall bridge near Stirling.

Mr McLeod told the court Bothwell had been off work for eight months with depression. He also faced a police disciplinary inquiry over the offence.

The lawyer gave Sheriff Arthurson letters from two doctors outlining Bothwell's depression. And after reading them, the sheriff cut Mr McLeod short and imposed the fine and points.

He said Bothwell's early guilty plea had saved him from a £900 fine.

The court heard that Bothwell, of High Street, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, is now divorced.

A road safety campaigner said the decision not to ban the cop was "surprising".

Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, added that Bothwell's anger at the time made the offence more serious, not less.

Greig said: "There's no excuse for driving at this sort of speed and the excuse offered doesn't cut much ice.

"It's a dangerous speed for anybody to be going at. And it was perhaps even more dangerous in this case because he was under psychological pressure and perhaps not concentrating on his driving.

"It does seem surprising that a ban wasn't considered in a case like this."

A Grampian Police spokeswoman refused to reveal whether Bothwell would be disciplined.


F\\\\KING TYPICAL............

typical

surely its even more dangerous, speeding in a bad mood?

Yeah that's right. It must be the fact that the courts love coppers that he got off. In fact we're all in cahoots thats why the courts are forever locking people up that the police prosecute. Oh no, wait, they don't do they. In fact in this day and age, they rarely do. Wierd that isn't it.
I agree that the fella should have been banned but you're blaming the whole police for the fact that he didn't. Which doesn't make sense.
Stop trying to point the finger when you're not even aware of the full story and
if you really must blame someone why not start by looking at the Sheriff that took the decision.

[Edited on 15/1/09 by mistergrumpy]

Perhaps it's different in Scotland, in England it's the judiciary who decide sentences, not the police.


John

^ Well put Sir ^

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Originally posted by mistergrumpy
^ Well put Sir ^

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I know Alan... top top bloke.

I knew he was struggling, but sorry to hear that life's got a bit out of control for him.

thing thats annoying is that they ban some, but not others. it doesnt matter what the penalty is, but if youre going to ban one person, you have to ban them all.
the reason the whole police force is getting blamed is that they always let cops off with it.
i remember a story a few years back where they had a 400hp evo, went past the boss at 120+, all that happened was they had the car taken off them...

The police prosecuted him didn't they? Looks 100% like the police prosecuting their own not protecting their own. As said - blame the sheriff.

And, actually, a good friend of mine was stopped for speeding in London after a blazing row with his wife. He told the police that, his mobile rang - it was her, the police mouthed "keep your speed down" and left. No points, no fine, nothing - and he's an estate agent!

does that mean if you have a row with the missus inScotland you may have a perfectly legitimate reason to commit any offence.

Hats off to the police in this instance they did there job in reporting the offence its the courts that decide unfortunately each judge or Sherriff has there own points system, there will also be run of the mill guys who also get away with it, they just aren't high profile enough to hit the papers though. so the media aren't interested.

quote:

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does that mean if you have a row with the missus inScotland you may have a perfectly legitimate reason to commit any offence.

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A friend was banned through totting up and this ol bill walked away with it. Six hundred quid is hardly going to bankrupt him.
He may get a shitty beat job for six months at work as a punishment.....

Just see a lot of this crap going on it the courts where the small guy gets hammered and the bill get it easy.
A few bikers I know have been banned on this very same road....so why does this depressed copper walk.......
Sorry I was speeding sir....Im depressed and Im driving fast to lift my mood.

quote:

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Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
A friend was banned through totting up and this ol bill walked away with it. Six hundred quid is hardly going to bankrupt him.
He may get a shitty beat job for six months at work as a punishment.....

Just see a lot of this crap going on it the courts where the small guy gets hammered and the bill get it easy.
A few bikers I know have been banned on this very same road....so why does this depressed copper walk.......
Sorry I was speeding sir....Im depressed and Im driving fast to lift my mood.

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the reason the whole police force is getting blamed is that they always let cops off with it

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Let's look at this small fact:

He's 37 and living with his mum.

That should be an offense right there if he has just bad management of his finances that a row with his wife has him skint.

Or in Canadian English: the guy is a big wuss if he can't get it together after an argument with the other half.

[Edited on 15/1/09 by RK]

quote:

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Originally posted by RK
Let's look at this small fact:

He's 37 and living with his mum.

That should be an offense right there if he has just bad management of his finances that a row with his wife has him skint.

Or in Canadian English: the guy is a big wuss if he can't get it together after an argument with the other half.

[Edited on 15/1/09 by RK]

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They may be "well hard", but they dont half look daft with yon helmets in certain counties, Weegie coppers dont wear em they get in the way when they are trying to stick the Heid on u Please dont hit me constable wuz only Kidding
Shug

i agree the guy should have been banned but the police officers involved did their job and reported the guy for the offence. the judge was the one who let him off with a fine.

To look at this another way, it looks like there are "opportunities" in the force if guys like him are in there. Can't be bad in a bad economy.

Erm... without going into too much detail - he's staying with his mum because his marriage has just broken down.

He still has to provide for his family, so can't afford to buy himself another house or get digs.

Is that so hard to comprehend?

By all means debate the rights or wrongs of the punishment, but as a mate of Alans, I'll politely invite anyone wanting to have a pop at the mans domestic situation to F*CK RIGHT OFF!