Community service for young speeder

A 21-YEAR-OLD Nicosia man was yesterday sentenced to 80 hours community service after he was found guilty of driving over twice the speed limit in a residential area.

The young man was caught speeding on the SOPAZ road nearly two years ago. He had been doing 120 km/hour in a 50 km/hour zone, driving without headlights and failing to stop for police when flagged down.

The youth, who was in court with his girlfriend of two years, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to community service at the Blind School every Saturday from 9am to 2pm. During those five hours the defendant will be expected to help both in and outside the facility offering his painting services.

Defence lawyer Robertos Vrahimis said the judge had been lenient on the 21-year-old as part of efforts to help young motorists to change attitude.

“When you’re that age and spending every Saturday at the Blind School painting and you remember the reason you’re there is because you were driving 120 km/hour you’re not going to do it again,” he said.

The measure was a deterrent commonly used by judges regarding youth offenders, said Vrahimis.

“These are offences that normally result in one month imprisonment,” he said.

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