A MOTORCYCLIST has admitted careless driving at the entrance to a Galashiels petrol station.

Mark McIntosh, 45, was overtaking a line of traffic on Melrose Road on October 21 when he collided with a Volkswagen Passat.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that the car had exited Dalgleish's Garage because all the pumps on that side were occupied and was about to re-enter it when the collision took place.

McIntosh - a self-employed painter and decorator - was thrown off his bike and injured.

Depute fiscal Sophie Hanlon said the accused blamed the motorist for the accident and began shouting and swearing at her.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said the offence was medium of the range for careless driving.

He explained that the Passat was performing an unusual manoeuvre which would have been difficult to predict and that he would have been "frustrated" at the build-up of traffic behind a pedal cyclist.

But he added that overtaking near the garage exit was foolish.

McIntosh was fined £200 for careless driving and had six penalty points placed on his licence. He was also fined £200 for threatening or abusive behaviour immediately following the collision.