Drink driver crashed

Banned for a year

A Coatbridge man who was involved in an early- morning crash was found to be driving with more than twice the legal amount of alcohol on his breath following a drinking session the night before.

Gar y Foley, 36, of Sunnyside Road, was drink- driving on the A725 northbound carriageway, at the junction with Dundyvan Road, also in Coatbridge, on July 2.

He was found to have 48 millilitres of alcohol on his breath – the limit being 22 – and pled guilty to the offence through lawyer Mark Lutton.

Prosecutor Lindsay Mains told Airdrie Sheriff Court: “It was at 7.45am when police attended the A725 after a car had been involved in a collision.

“They found the driver, who was the accused, to have slurred speech.

“He was taken to Coatbridge police office, where the normal procedures were carried out. He was arrested and charged and made no reply.”

Mr Lutton said: “He had been drinking the night before and stayed over with friends.

“It was a costly mistake as he caused £ 1500 worth of damage to his car.

“He is a forklift driver, but any ban will not affect his job. He has significant debt.”

Sheriff William Mercer fined Foley £350, which was reduced from £440 because of his early plea or guilty and preventing a trial.

He was banned from driving for one year and told he was eligible to take part in the drink- drivers’ rehabilitation scheme, which would reduce his ban to nine months.