Man appears in court after car crash which saw Edinburgh city centre locked down

A man has appeared in court after a car crash which saw part of Edinburgh city centre locked down during a huge emergency response.

Durgesh Chaware pleaded guilty when he appeared in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

He was detained following the incident in the capital last week.

The 33-year-old was arrested and charged after his vehicle collided with scaffolding surrounding a building on Friday, January 2.

Dozens of police officers and firefighters descended on the scene, with Hanover Street and Queen Street being cordoned off.

Pedestrians, buses and other motorists were told to avoid the area and take alternative routes.

Officers at the scene said the street had been locked down "as a precaution".

Chaware's blue Peugeot 107 Urban was pictured at the scene with a smashed rear windscreen.

Broken glass could be seen on the pavement, next to the scaffolding, and on the road.

The car was later taken away from the scene by a 911 recovery truck.

Chaware, of Ednburgh's Bonnington area, was held in police custody overnight and appeared at the city's sheriff court on Saturday, January 3.

He faced three charges - driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, driving without a licence.

He pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and had not guilty pleas accepted to the other two charges.

He was fined £400, reduced from £600 as he admitted his guilt, which he will pay at a rate £50-per-month, and has to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

He was also banned from driving for 12 months, reduced from 18 months as a reward for pleading guilty and sparing a trial.

A post on the Police Scotland Edinburgh Facebook page at the time said: "Hanover Street and Queen Street in Edinburgh have reopened after a car collided with a scaffold, causing it to become insecure.

"It was reported to police around 2.40pm on Friday, 2 January, 2026.

"There are no reported injuries.

"A section of footway on Hanover Street remains closed.

"A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with road traffic offences and enquiries are ongoing."

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 3.21pm on Friday, 2 January to reports that a vehicle had collided with scaffolding near to Queens Street and Hanover Street, Edinburgh.

“Operations Control mobilised one fire appliance and a specialist resource to support emergency partners at the scene.

“There were no reported casualties and crews left at 3.52pm after ensuring the area was safe.”

Police Scotland was approached for comment.