John Doran, 28, has been slapped with a £290 fine for causing a whooping £3,000 worth of damage by driving recklessly and doing doughnuts on the pristine green lawn of the Kings Links golf course in Aberdeen.
The incident took place when Doran arrived with a caravan near the popular golf course, and inexplicably decided to drive a silver 4×4 across the carefully maintained lawn, leaving muddy tire tracks consistent with skidding in circles. This caused significant damage to the course, making one of the greens completely unplayable.
The extensive damage to the fairways on the 8th and 9th holes has led to an estimated repair cost of around £3,000 for Sport Aberdeen, as revealed by David Selkirk, the director of community leisure operations. He expressed disappointment over the incident and mentioned that the repairs were expected to take approximately four weeks. Temporary alterations were made to ensure that the affected holes remained playable during this time.
The reckless driving incident was discovered by a groundsman on the morning of April 30, with the silver 4×4 still present at the site. The subsequent proceedings led to Doran admitting to driving a car onto the land without lawful authority, for which he was ordered to pay a fine of £290 by Sheriff Eric Brown at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Doran’s defense agent, Jenny Logan, acknowledged the offence and his acceptance of wrongdoing. She mentioned that Doran, a father of four residing in Nottinghamshire, had no intentions of returning to the Aberdeen area. Ultimately, Doran expressed remorse for his actions and vowed not to repeat the same mistake.
While the incident reflects the costly consequences of reckless driving, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting public and private property. Such incidents not only result in financial burdens but also disrupt recreational activities for the community.
To stay updated on the latest court cases, crime, and breaking incidents in Aberdeen, individuals can join the dedicated Facebook group for timely information and updates.