A financially weak nobleman was able to avoid a driving ban by arguing that he had to deliver takeaway food for Just Eat. Graham Roderick Laurence Oliphant, the future head of an old aristocratic family, convinced the court with his plea of ”exceptional hardship”.
Oliphant, who comes from an old Scottish family, was facing a driving ban after receiving four speeding tickets in quick succession. A Dundee court heard how Oliphant, who lives near the royals in Glamis, was caught driving significantly too fast in Dundee on October 2, 2023.
He admitted driving his eight-year-old Peugeot 2008 at 82 km/h in a 65 km/h zone. As Oliphant had three points on his licence for this offence and already had nine on his record, he was facing a driving ban as he had reached the 12-point limit.
But his defence lawyer Doug McConnell argued at the hearing that 69-year-old Oliphant’s aristocratic roots did not protect him from financial problems. McConnell explained: “His address in Glamis is remote. He earns his money by working for Just Eat, where he is a delivery driver.”
“His pension is very small and not enough to cover his rent. If he is disqualified he will clearly lose his job.” “You can tell from his name and his voice etc. that he comes from a fairly wealthy family, but he has fallen on very, very hard times and this is his only income.”
“He is £25,000 in debt and has no savings. There is nothing to support him unless he continues this employment. There is currently no other way of finding work.”
Oliphant told the court that his first speeding violation occurred while he was driving his divorced ex-wife to the hospital and was distracted by the “toxic” nature of their relationship.
Mr McConnell said the three subsequent offences – including the one being heard in the Justice of the Peace Court – were committed when Oliphant tried to be a Good Samaritan to a man he met at McDonalds.
He said: “He was taking care of a seriously ill man. I don’t know the real reason, but he was trying to be a Good Samaritan and take care of him.
“This man is in significant difficulty and my client has allowed him to remain in his home. This man has been driven around by Mr. Oliphant to get help.
“He was wetting himself in the car and doing various other strange and rather disgusting things and Mr Oliphant was trying to do his best. This resulted in stupid decisions such as driving a little too fast and trying to get to his destination quickly. The background to the incident is unusual.”
The Justice of the Peace granted the application for a special licence and allowed Oliphant to remain on the street. He also imposed a fine of £100.
She said: “I have heard the background and I am convinced that losing your licence would be extremely hard on you. So you can carry on driving but you clearly need to be extremely careful in this regard in the future.”
Oliphant is the son of Reginald Godfrey Laurence Oliphant, of Condie, Younger, and Joan Rosalind Mary Lawrence, and the grandson of Rear-Admiral Laurence Richard Oliphant and the Honourable Adelaide Daphne Hermione Willoughby.
