A PICKUP truck driver has admitted careless driving while on medication which made him feel not well.

Fifty-year-old Steven Yardley from Hawick pleaded guilty to mounting a grass verge and attempting to overtake a vehicle on the A7 south of Galashiels on January 9 last year.

Depute fiscal Roshni Joshi told Selkirk Sheriff Court that a witness saw a large silver vehicle driven by Yardley drive onto a grass verge just south of the Tweed Bridge.

The witness added that in disbelief they saw the vehicle again swerve onto the grass verge south of Selkirk and decided to dial 999.

The witness managed to get the registration number and saw a name of RGT Excavations written on the back.

Police officers attended at the firm on January 14 and they confirmed the only person that could have been driving was Yardley. He made no reply when cautioned and charged.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said: "He was feeling unwell that day. What he should have done when feeling ill was pull over and stop driving as it led to his carelessness.

"He did pull over twice but re-commenced driving and he wanted to get home.

"But he was clearly not fit to do that.

"This was an error of judgement rather than a demonstration of deliberate poor driving."

Yardley who has worked for the same company for 19 years and is a site manager, had his licence endorsed with six penalty points and fined £350 with a £20 Victim Surcharge.