Man jailed for reckless walking
29 Sep 05
Drunken pedestrian believed to be first person ever imprisoned for such this offence
A drunk pedestrian became one of the first ever people to be imprisoned for reckless walking after causing a car crash on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
Marcus Whitelaw, 27, admitted culpably and recklessly walking into the path of oncoming traffic and endangering life. Perth Sheriff Court heard that after drinking in Inverness all day and, according to the defence, being left by the roadside by friends after a fight, he stepped on to the road waving his arms above the head, apparently trying to stop a Peugeot 306 car driven by Marie Connon.
The car swerved to avoid him, mounted the central reservation and overturned onto its roof. Ms Connon and her passenger were not seriously hurt but the car was a write-off.
Whitelaw was sentenced to two months' imprisonment at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, after Sheriff Michael Fletcher told him that his actions had been incredibly stupid and could have led to much more serious consequences for Miss Connon and her passenger.