Teenager threw flare from car on Perth Bridge

Feb 5 2010

A TEENAGER travelling to a Runrig concert at Scone Palace lit a flare INSIDE his car.

Panic-stricken Matthew Tervet then threw it from the vehicle as it went over Perth Bridge, striking the bonnet of a passing car.

The 17-year-old front seat passenger, who was fined £600 fine at Perth Sheriff Court, narrowly missed a window, alarming the female driver.

He was also ordered to pay almost £400 compensation for damage caused in the teatime incident.

Solicitor Paul Ralph said that the accused had been drinking and got “such a fright” when he lit the flare.

Tervet planned to light it and hold it out of the window in appreciation of the Scottish band, but panicked when sparks started flying.

He threw the lit flare from the window and it landed on the bonnet of a car being driven by Natasha Gow, causing scorch marks.

Imposing the fine and a £393 compensation order, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told Tervet: “I dare say, with a group of you down for a concert, there would have been an element of high spirits.

“But there’s a line over which high spirits become reckless conduct – and that’s undoubtedly what this was.”

Tervet, of Kiltarlity, Beauly, Inverness-shire, pled guilty to culpably and recklessly lighting the flare and throwing it from a moving car, to the danger of Ms Gow, last August 29.