A BUILDING and roofing business owner who admitted a careless driving offence has been fined £500 and had his licence endorsed with six penalty points at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Twenty-eight-year-old Harry Cooper, of Nenthorn, near Kelso, pleaded guilty to failing to slow down and colliding with a trailer which was being pulled by a van on the Greenlaw to Gordon A6105 road on April 20 last year.

Prosecutor Fiona Hamilton said the incident happened at around 2pm when the witnesses were driving the vehicle which was carrying spraying equipment on a trailer.

She explained the driver was preparing to turn left onto an unclassified road when it was struck by Cooper’s vehicle from behind and damaged.

Defence lawyer Iain Cahill said Cooper was travelling along the straight road which had a slight incline and the road was clear for about 500 metres.

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He said his client was travelling at around 50mph in the 60mph limit and did not observe the vehicle in front slowing down in good time for the turn off manoeuvre.

Mr Cahill said Cooper was shocked by the incident as a number of emergency services had to attend and was hugely apologetic. He added it had taught his client to be more vigilant in the future.

The court heard the driver of the vehicle suffered some soreness but otherwise there was no injury to him or his passenger.

Cooper had admitted liability and paid for the damage through his insurance.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said it was a “classic example of a lack of care and attention”.

He said the starting point would have been seven penalty points but reduced it to six points due to the guilty plea.

In addition to the £500 fine a £40 victim surcharge was imposed.