A cash-strapped nobleman has dodged a driving ban after arguing he needs to deliver takeaway meals for Just Eat. The future head of an ancient noble family, Graham Roderick Laurence Oliphant swayed the court with his plea of “exceptional hardship.”
Hailing from an ancient Scottish lineage, Oliphant found himself on the brink of a driving ban after accumulating four speeding tickets in quick succession. A court in Dundee heard how Oliphant, who has a residence near to the Royals in Glamis, was caught driving well over the speed limit in Dundee on October 2, 2023.
He admitted driving at 51 mph in a 40 mph zone while behind the wheel of his eight-year-old Peugeot 2008. With three points slapped on his licence for this offence, and nine already to his name, Oliphant faced a ban as he hit the 12-point cap.
Yet, his defence lawyer Doug McConnell argued at the exceptional hardship hearing that 69-year-old Oliphant’s aristocratic roots didn’t shield him from financial woes. McConnell explained: “His address out in Glamis is remote. He earns his money through working for Just Eat, where he is a delivery driver.”
“He has a very small pension that will not cover his rent. If he is disqualified, clearly he would lose his employment. “You can tell from his name and voice etc that he comes from a fairly well-to-do family, but he has fallen on vey, very hard times and that is his only income.
“He is £25,000 in debt and has no savings. There is nothing to allow him the ability to live if he does not continue with this employment. There is no other option in respect of work at the present time.”
Oliphant told the court that his first speeding offence had happened when he was driving his estranged ex-wife to hospital and was distracted by the “toxic” nature of their relationship.
Mr McConnell said the subsequent three offences – including the one being dealt with at the JP Court – were committed while Oliphant was trying to be a Good Samaritan to a man he met in McDonalds.
He said: “He was looking after quite a seriously unwell man. I don’t know the real reason, but he was trying to be a Good Samaritan and looking after him.
“This man has quite significant difficulties and my client allowed him to stay in his house. This man was being shuttled around by Mr Oliphant to get assistance.
“He was soiling himself in the car and doing various other odd and quite disgusting things, and Mr Oliphant tried to do his best. This led to stupid decisions like going slightly too fast and trying to get him places quickly. The background to the incident is unusual.”
The Justice of the Peace granted the exceptional hardship bid and allowed Oliphant to stay on the road. She also fined him £100.
She said: “I have heard the background and I am satisfied there would be exceptional hardship should you lose your licence, so you may continue to drive, but clearly it is something you need to be extremely wary of in 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 Hon. Adelaide Daphne Hermione Willoughby.
