AN AMAZON employee drove through Greenock at nearly twice the speed limit because he was scared of being late for work.

Marwan Sulaiman was clocked at 58mph in the 30mph zone at East Hamilton Street in 'icy' road conditions last November.

The 26-year-old new driver was offered a £200 fixed fine and three penalty points by police but failed to adhere to the measure in good time.

He ended up at Greenock Sheriff Court on a dangerous driving charge as a result, and has now been ordered to pay £300 and docked four penalty points.

Prosecutor Lindy Scaife said: "It was 7.30am and weather conditions were dry but icy, traffic was heavy and the accused's direction of travel was westbound.

"Police were engaged in a static speed check and observed the accused's vehicle travelling at 58mph.

"He was offered a conditional offer and didn't comply."

Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan said: "It seems that he's gone to the fiscal or the sheriff court and attempted to pay and been told he'd have to wait for paperwork."

Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: "It sounds like he went along too late."

Mr Keenan said: "He was working at Amazon at the time and was running slightly late because he had to take other colleagues.

"His partner is expecting their first child, and she is a student at university in Glasgow.

"Mr Sulaiman was an asylum seeker and is now a refugee."

Sulaiman, whose address was not given in court, had a guilty plea to the lesser charge of driving without due care and attention accepted.