A teen tractor driver who completely destroyed a car by tipping manure on it has been spared jail.
Logan Boyd, 19, lost control of his Massey Ferguson machine and trailer at a roundabout, forcing the driver and passenger to flee out of a window to escape serious injury.
The farm worker was convicted of dangerous driving after striking the central hub of the roundabout in Paisley with such force he tipped the entire load onto the black Peugeot 208 hatchback.
Driver Michelle Wiseman and passenger David Whiteloch scrambled through the window to avoid being crushed during the incident, which happened at the junction of Ferguslie and Station Road in the town.
The accused appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday for sentencing after the court had obtained background reports prior to handing him his punishment.
Defence agent Haroun Malik said Boyd feared being locked up in prison given the severity of the “traumatic” event.
Mr Malik said: “He understands the court could deal with this by way of a custodial sentence. He has packed his bags and is ready to face that disposal if that is the disposal the court decides.
“He is deeply remorseful over the event. When police came to the scene he seemed very distressed. It was very traumatic for all involved.
“The report reveals he understands the consequences his actions could have caused. Fortunately there were no serious injuries in relation to this matter.”
The lawyer said he hoped the court would spare Boyd jail, given his young age, his plea of guilty and his full admission of responsibility for the offence.
Boyd, of Craig Hoyle Farm, Ardentinny, Argyll, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving on May 21 last year.
He admitted failiing to maintain control of his tractor and trailer, causing the trailer to flip and crush the vehicle driven by Ms Wiseman, causing her and her passenger to take evasive action to avoid injury and extensively damaging her vehicle.
Fiscal depute Claire Rowan said: “He was driving a Massey Ferguson tractor towing a trailer, which was fully laden with a quantity of manure.
“As he approached the roundabout at the junction of Ferguslie with Station Road, the Peugeot was in lane one, the tractor was in lane two.
“The accused failed to appreciate the width of the tractor or trailer.
“This meant he mounted the main hub of the roundabout.
“The trailer began tipping to the nearside.
“Witness Ms Wiseman saw the trailer tip towards her vehicle and moved to her nearside as it landed on top of the Peugeot.
“The weight of the trailer crushed the Peugeot, forcing the pillar down to the steering wheel and folded the driver’s seat in half.
“Both witnesses had moved to the nearside of the car. Both managed to escape from the passenger side window.”
Sheriff Tom McCartney voiced concern over “the serious nature of the offence,” and added that Boyd had “other recent road traffic offences.”
But he spared him jail, handing him a Community Payback Order comprising 225 hours of unpaid work to be completed within nine months.
He also disqualified him from driving for four and a half years and ordered he sit the extended test of competency before driving again.
