Driver should have been wearing glasses to drive – but passed police eye test

A driver stopped by police and told he should be wearing his glasses was given an eye test – and passed it!

James Beresford told officers that he had worn specs in the army many years ago but felt he had not needed them since when driving.

Beresford admitted with driving without lenses, a requirement of his licence, and a record at Wick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Police were carrying out a documents check at Kirk on the B876, on December 10 last year, and stopped 33-year-old Beresford who was towing a trailer.

Officers made an inquiry to licensing authority the DVLA which revealed that he should be wearing spectacles or contact lenses when driving.

"He accepted he was not wearing one or the other" said fiscal David Barclay at Wick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

He continued: "Rather unusually, the police carried out an eye test... and he passed it. However, in relation to the conditions of his licence, he was driving without his glasses."

Self-employed Beresford, of the Smiddy, Achscrabster, Thurso, told the court that when tested by police officers he was able to read a number plate at 25 metres.

He said he was issued with glasses when he joined the army some time ago but had never worn them until recently and only for "close-up reading".

Mr Barclay made the point that it wasn't the case of a driver who couldn't see properly going out for a spin in his car.

Sheriff Andrew Berry said that the circumstances of the offence were unusual and admonished Beresford, who also incurred three penalty points.