Banned Driver Speeds Away from Police After Inhaling Laughing Gas Balloons
A banned driver from Scotland was caught inhaling laughing gas balloons at the wheel of a Mercedes and then fled from police at high speed in a shocking incident. Thomas Forrest, 24, was seen inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon while driving through a McDonald’s drive-thru in Raploch, Stirling. Witnesses observed Forrest driving the one-year-old blue Mercedes C-class along Drip Road at such a high speed that the vehicle even left the ground when going over a speedbump. The incident took place around 7:30 pm on December 16th, 2023.
According to reports from the Stirling Sheriff Court, witnesses alerted the police after noticing Forrest’s unusual behaviour and continuous consumption of nitrous oxide. When Forrest saw the police arriving, he accelerated his vehicle, reaching speeds of approximately 50 miles per hour on a road with a 20-mile per hour limit. At one point, all four wheels of the Mercedes left the ground as it hit a speed bump, before Forrest abandoned the car and tried to flee on foot.
The court heard that Forrest pleaded guilty to driving carelessly while inhaling nitrous oxide, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance. Despite initially facing a dangerous driving charge, Forrest’s plea was accepted for driving without due care and attention. His defence lawyer, Sandy Morrison, appealed to the court not to sentence Forrest to jail time, highlighting his client’s remorse and supportive family background.
In the verdict, Summary Sheriff Neil Kinnear banned Forrest from driving for an additional 33 months, starting from September, along with social work supervision for 12 months and 135 hours of unpaid work. The sheriff acknowledged the seriousness of driving under the influence of nitrous oxide but took into consideration Forrest’s apparent realization of the gravity of his actions.
This leniency shown towards Forrest has sparked discussions about the consequences of dangerous driving behaviours and the importance of ensuring road safety for all. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with driving under the influence of substances and the need to uphold traffic laws to protect both drivers and pedestrians alike.