Football star falls foul of traffic cops

Jan 9 2008 By Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post

AN AYR United star fouled up big time when he slapped an altered tax disc on the front of his car.

Ryan Stevenson was also driving without a licence, insurance or wearing his seatbelt.

But the blunder proved expensive for the midfielder when a sheriff dished out a £550 fine this week.

Cops’ attention was drawn to Stevenson when they spotted him driving his car in Ayr’s Belmont Road without his seatbelt on. After routine roadside checks on May 14 last year, they discovered that 23-year-old Stevenson did not have a licence because he hadn’t sent away for it when a previous driving ban expired.

And eagle-eyed cops also noticed the dodgy tax disc.

Depute fiscal Gail Davidson told the court that Stevenson had his licence revoked after the new driver tallied up six points.

Miss Davidson added: “It was also noticed that the tax disc had been altered. It was the month which had been altered from 02 to 08 using a black marker pen.”

Defence lawyer Ian Gillies said that because his client’s car had been off the road during his disqualification it was not insured. But he admitted that even if he had taken out a policy it would have been void because Stevenson didn’t have his licence.

Disqualifying him for a further 18-months and dishing out the hefty fine, Sheriff Jack McGowan said: “It is hard to believe that you would act in such a stupid manner.

“It was up to you to get your licence back by simply asking for it but you didn’t and just to draw attention to yourself you drove without your seatbelt.”