DRIVER POSED AS POLICE OFFICER WITH FAKE SIREN AND LIGHTS, COURT HEARS

• David Galbraith was seen driving at speed with a blue flashing light and sirens 
• The 38-year-old was fined £380 after admitting impersonating a police officer
• Incident described in court by his lawyer as a  'stupid and idiotic mistake' 

A driver caught pretending to be a police officer after attaching a fake siren and flashing blue lights to his car has been fined £380.

David Galbraith bought the items on Amazon before heading out on the roads.

The 38-year-old was spotted driving at speed on the A725 near Bellshill, Lanarkshire, by on-duty officers who initially thought Galbraith's car was an unmarked vehicle.

Other motorists took evasive action believing they were making way for a police pursuit on the busy road in October, 2022.

But Galbraith was pulled over after officers discovered the car had no links to Police Scotland.

As he was being arrested, he said: ‘I can’t be impersonating a police officer, could it not be impersonating any member of the emergency services?’

Galbraith, of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted operating the lights and siren in a way that was ‘calculated to suggest’ that he was a constable.

The father of one also pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention.

Sheriff John Speir gave Galbraith six points on his licence as well as the fine. He will also have to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work and be under supervision for the next year.

Depute fiscal Rosemary O’Neill told the court: ‘The accused was noted in a car by police witnesses who were in a marked police vehicle.

‘They noted the accused travelling at speed through the roundabout and noted a blue flashing light with the emergency siren to be activated.

‘They assumed the car to be an unmarked police vehicle.

‘They followed in the direction of Bellshill where the accused was observed to drive at speed while other vehicles gave way on the assumption of the blue light from the vehicle.

‘Police activated their lights to indicate the accused to stop but he continued to Bellshill before coming to a stop at a set of traffic lights.

‘Police approached the vehicle and noted there were two passengers as well as the accused who was driving.’

The prosecutor added: ‘The officers established there was no legitimate explanation for the use of the warning light and he was removed and placed in the marked police vehicle.’

Craig Dewar, defending, said: ‘He purchased these items on Amazon and thereafter made a stupid and idiotic mistake in attaching the devices to his motor vehicle and then driving that vehicle.

‘He is at a loss as to his thought process here and now realises it was an act of sheer stupidity.’

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2024-07-04T14:57:49Z dg43tfdfdgfd