Latest news with #SophieLeighGemmell
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
'Reckless' woman, 32, who let girl under 10 DRIVE car through village is ordered to do community service
A 'reckless' woman who let a child drive a car through a village during a rainstorm has been ordered to do 134 hours of community service. Sophie-Leigh Gemmell, 32, previously admitted culpable and reckless conduct after allowing the girl, who was under 10 at the time, to take to the wheel in July last year. Video footage posted on social media app Snapchat showed the child driving in the dark through Crimond, Aberdeenshire. She could be seen peering over the steeling wheel as music plays and Gemmell mother cheers. At Peterhead Sheriff Court on Monday, Gemmell was given a 134-hour community payback order - reduced from 200 due to her plea. Sheriff Alan Sinclair said said her actions were 'reckless in the extreme'. But he said a custodial sentence would have been 'disproportionate'. The court heard she had no previous criminal record. In Scotland, a child can apply for a provisional driving licence at 15 years and 9 months old, but they cannot drive a car on public roads until they are 17. Children must use a car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall (4ft 4in), whichever comes first. Sheriff Sinclair told Gemmell that she and the girl were 'very fortunate' not to have suffered more serious consequences and added that allowing a child to operate machinery could have caused injury to both the occupants of the car and the wider public. He added that filming the incident 'defies any reasonable explanation'. Gemmell's defence agent said the 32-year-old had difficult family circumstances and was the victim of domestic abuse. He said her behaviour was an attempt at 'levity' during a 'dire' time for the family. The defence agent said Gemmell admitted her 'behaviour was completely foolish' and a result of 'poor decision-making'. He said she wished to apologise to the court and showed 'genuine remorse' for her actions and an 'acceptance' that 'the behaviour was wrong and a willingness to accept that'. He added that a social work report found she was 'of no risk of further offending' and 'does not need supervision'. The defence said Gemmell 'appreciates and understands this is a serious matter' that 'could have had serious consequences' and that she recognised she deserves to be punished for her actions. Gemmell must complete her unpaid work within 12 months.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
‘Reckless' mum filmed her young child driving around UK Village
A woman who filmed her young child under the age of 10 driving a car through a village has received her punishment. Sophie-Leigh Gemmell, 32, has been ordered to carry out 134 hours of unpaid work after letting the girl drive the vehicle through a Scottish village in bad weather. Ms Gemmell previously admitted culpable and reckless conduct for the incident which took place in Crimond, Aberdeenshire. The video of the incident, which happened on July 10 last year, was seen on social media. It showed the child driving in the dark while peering over the steeling wheel as music plays and her mother cheers. At Peterhead Sheriff Court on Monday, Gemmell was given a 134-hour community payback order – reduced from 200 due to her plea. Sheriff Alan Sinclair said said her actions were 'reckless in the extreme'. But he said a custodial sentence would have been 'disproportionate'. The court heard she had no previous criminal record. He told the mother that she and the girl were 'very fortunate' not to have suffered more serious consequences and added that allowing a child to operate machinery could have caused injury to both the occupants of the car and the wider public. The sheriff said filming the incident 'defies any reasonable explanation'. Gemmell's defence agent said the 32-year-old had difficult family circumstances and was the victim of domestic abuse. He said her behaviour was an attempt at 'levity' during a 'dire' time for the family. The defence agent said Gemmell admitted her 'behaviour was completely foolish' and a result of 'poor decision-making'. He said she wished to apologise to the court and showed 'genuine remorse' for her actions and an 'acceptance' that 'the behaviour was wrong and a willingness to accept that'. He added that a social work report found she was 'of no risk of further offending' and 'does not need supervision'. The defence said Gemmell 'appreciates and understands this is a serious matter' that 'could have had serious consequences' and that she recognised she deserves to be punished for her actions. Gemmell must complete her unpaid work within 12 months.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Reckless' mum filmed her young child driving around UK Village
A woman who filmed her young child under the age of 10 driving a car through a village has received her punishment. Sophie-Leigh Gemmell, 32, has been ordered to carry out 134 hours of unpaid work after letting the girl drive the vehicle through a Scottish village in bad weather. Ms Gemmell previously admitted culpable and reckless conduct for the incident which took place in Crimond, Aberdeenshire. The video of the incident, which happened on July 10 last year, was seen on social media. It showed the child driving in the dark while peering over the steeling wheel as music plays and her mother cheers. At Peterhead Sheriff Court on Monday, Gemmell was given a 134-hour community payback order – reduced from 200 due to her plea. Sheriff Alan Sinclair said said her actions were 'reckless in the extreme'. But he said a custodial sentence would have been 'disproportionate'. The court heard she had no previous criminal record. He told the mother that she and the girl were 'very fortunate' not to have suffered more serious consequences and added that allowing a child to operate machinery could have caused injury to both the occupants of the car and the wider public. The sheriff said filming the incident 'defies any reasonable explanation'. Gemmell's defence agent said the 32-year-old had difficult family circumstances and was the victim of domestic abuse. He said her behaviour was an attempt at 'levity' during a 'dire' time for the family. The defence agent said Gemmell admitted her 'behaviour was completely foolish' and a result of 'poor decision-making'. He said she wished to apologise to the court and showed 'genuine remorse' for her actions and an 'acceptance' that 'the behaviour was wrong and a willingness to accept that'. He added that a social work report found she was 'of no risk of further offending' and 'does not need supervision'. The defence said Gemmell 'appreciates and understands this is a serious matter' that 'could have had serious consequences' and that she recognised she deserves to be punished for her actions. Gemmell must complete her unpaid work within 12 months.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Woman who filmed young girl driving car given community payback order
A woman who filmed a young child driving a car through a Scottish village has been ordered to carry out 134 hours of unpaid work. Sophie-Leigh Gemmell, 32, previously admitted culpable and reckless conduct after letting the girl – aged under 10 – drive the vehicle through Crimond, Aberdeenshire, in bad weather. The video of the incident, which happened on July 10 last year, was seen on social media. It showed the child driving in the dark while peering over the steeling wheel as music plays and her mother cheers. At Peterhead Sheriff Court on Monday, Gemmell was given a 134-hour community payback order – reduced from 200 due to her plea. Sheriff Alan Sinclair said said her actions were 'reckless in the extreme'. But he said a custodial sentence would have been 'disproportionate'. The court heard she had no previous criminal record. He told the mother that she and the girl were 'very fortunate' not to have suffered more serious consequences and added that allowing a child to operate machinery could have caused injury to both the occupants of the car and the wider public. The sheriff said filming the incident 'defies any reasonable explanation'. Gemmell's defence agent said the 32-year-old had difficult family circumstances and was the victim of domestic abuse. He said her behaviour was an attempt at 'levity' during a 'dire' time for the family. The defence agent said Gemmell admitted her 'behaviour was completely foolish' and a result of 'poor decision-making'. He said she wished to apologise to the court and showed 'genuine remorse' for her actions and an 'acceptance' that 'the behaviour was wrong and a willingness to accept that'. He added that a social work report found she was 'of no risk of further offending' and 'does not need supervision'. The defence said Gemmell 'appreciates and understands this is a serious matter' that 'could have had serious consequences' and that she recognised she deserves to be punished for her actions. Gemmell must complete her unpaid work within 12 months.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Woman who let child drive car in Crimond must do unpaid work
A woman who allowed a girl aged under 10 to drive a car through an Aberdeenshire village has been given a community payback order. Sophie-Leigh Gemmell, 32, previously admitted culpable and reckless conduct after footage emerged of the incident in young girl drove the car barefoot and in bad weather on 10 July last Peterhead Sheriff Court, Gemmell was ordered to carry out 134 hours of unpaid work in the community, reduced from 200 hours due to her plea. A video of the incident - which lasted about a minute - was seen on social showed the child driving in the dark, using the wipers and indicators, and peering over the steering wheel. The child has bare feet and music is playing, including by Sugababes in one from Crimond, could be heard cheering during the month Gemmell admitted culpable and reckless conduct with utter disregard for the consequences by allowing a child to drive a motor vehicle on a public road in poor weather and barefoot to the danger of others - in particular to the Annella Cowan had previously deferred sentence to obtain a criminal justice social work report. Sentencing Gemmell, Sheriff Alan Sinclair described her actions as "reckless in the extreme". He added that she was very fortunate not to have suffered more serious consequences. She was told she must complete her unpaid work within 12 months.
