Parking ticket dodge driver fined

Sentence was passed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

A Midlothian motorist who forced a traffic warden to jump out of the way as he drove off to dodge a parking ticket has been fined £400.

Raymond Dixon, 43, of Penicuik, had parked his BMW illegally in a controlled area and returned to find two wardens circling the vehicle.

Dixon shouted "I'm here" and ran to the car, which he got in and drove off on 7 February in Penicuik High Street.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, he pleaded guilty to driving without due care.

Warden Fleur Collett was standing beside the car at the time of the incident.

Fiscal depute Gillian More, prosecuting, said: "Due to the angle at which he had been parked she was forced to jump out of the way to avoid being struck."

I thought I was going to get a ticket and I thought they had to put a ticket on your windscreen Raymond Dixon

Sheriff James Scott told Dixon, an HGV driver for Midlothian Council: "It's with some hesitation that I have withdrawn from disqualifying you today. You will be fined £400."

Police were called after the incident and Dixon was arrested 10 minutes later driving towards Edinburgh.

He told officers: "I knew I was illegally parked so I ran down and jumped into my car.

"I thought I was going to get a ticket and I thought they had to put a ticket on your windscreen."

Solicitor Paul Smith, defending, said Dixon had believed the warden was about a foot away from the car when he drove off.

"This would appear to be a momentary lapse of judgement as to where the traffic warden was standing," said the solicitor.

"She asked him for his driving licence, which she had no business doing, and she positioned herself towards the front and side of the car.

"He thought he could drive off straight, he wasn't parked on the pavement or anything.

"There's no suggestion he drove at speed, he simply drove off as normal," he added.