A CLACKS driver has been fined after hitting a schoolboy with his car in Devonside last year.

The 12-year-old was knocked down by the vehicle as he walked on a pedestrian crossing on Alexandra Street on March 4, 2020.

The driver, Shaun Rafferty, said he was blinded by the low-lying sun and his vision of the road ahead was said to be "zero".

He failed to stop the car, however, and as a result the child was struck in an incident captured on CCTV.

Fortunately, the child avoided serious injury and was released after a check-up at hospital.

Rafferty was spared a ban when he appeared for sentencing at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, March 25.

The 24-year-old admitted a charge of careless driving whereby he failed to keep a proper look-out, used his windscreen washer on his approach to a pedestrian crossing, drove on to the crossing when there were pedestrians on it and struck a 12-year-old boy causing him to be injured.

The CCTV video of the incident was shown in court and showed the boy walking on to the crossing and being struck.

Rafferty, of Ravenswood, Tillicoultry, immediately stopped his car and went to the boy's aid.

Defence solicitor Larissa Milligan said her client was blinded by the low-lying sun as he came to the crossing.

The crossing had been clear when he checked just before his vision was impaired.

She went on: "He thought it was a combination of the sun and dust which meant his vision of the road ahead was zero. He tried to clear the windscreen.

"He realises that what he should have done was to have stopped when he could not see ahead. It was a brief loss of visibility.

"It is not a well-placed crossing as there is a wall which blocks a driver's view of pedestrians.

"After the collision he stopped immediately and went to the boy's assistance taking him into his car.

"He gave himself a significant fright. He has a clean driving licence and has never been in court before. It was a momentary lapse of sound judgement.

"When he saw the CCTV for the first time, he was shocked and upset."

The solicitor said her client would not be able to continue to work in job at a dairy in Bridge of Allan if he lost his driving licence, as he starts at 6am and could not get there on time by public transport.

Sheriff Craig Harris told Rafferty: "You were incredibly fortunate the injuries the child suffered were not far worse.

"You obviously should have slowed down approaching the crossing having lost vision."

He imposed a £640 fine and put seven penalty points put on Rafferty's licence.