Fined and banned from road

A driver was seen staggering about on the road after crashing his car outside a house in Blairgowrie.

And when police arrived on the scene shortly afterwards, he was “slurring his speech” and appeared to be drowsy.

Later tests showed he had been behind the wheel while under the influence of his own medication.

Fifty-year-old Archibald McGarry, who blamed the smash on a friend’s dog “distracting” him, was fined £600 and disqualified from driving for two years at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday last week.

The accused, of Kirk Wynd, Blairgowrie, admitted driving in the town’s Perth Road on July 3 while unfit through drink or drugs.

Not guilty pleas were accepted to further charges of having morphine in his possession – and failing to provide a blood specimen – were accepted by the prosecution.

Depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston told the court that police had received information that he was driving his Fiat car while under the influence of drink or drugs.

About 9pm the same day, a householder heard a “loud bang” outside her property and saw the accused exit his vehicle.

McGarry, who declined medical attention, told police his dog was in the vehicle and it had distracted him.

A doctor later examined him and certified he was unfit to drive through drugs.

Solicitor John McLaughlin said the accused was on “significant prescribed medication.”

He had been looking after a friend’s dog and he hadn’t secured the animal in the car.

It had then jumped across at him.

The lawyer added: “He accepts he was unfit through his own medication and should not have driven.”

In view of previous road traffic offences, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis imposed the lengthy ban.

The fine will be paid at the rate of £50 a month.