Driver crashed mum’s car while over limit

34-year-old was almost five times above legal limit

An east Perthshire driver who crashed his mother’s car was found to have been almost FIVE times over the legal booze limit.

Thirty-four-year-old Raymond Townsley, of Bakery House, High Street, Rattray, had an interim driving ban imposed at Perth Sheriff Court last week.

And he will discover how long he will be off the road when he returns to court for sentence on February 14.

But Sheriff Gillian Wade warned him: “I would suspect a substantial period of disqualification would be imposed.”

In view of the “level of reading,” she called for a background report before deciding his fate.

He admitted that on October 5 last year, on Walnut Grove, Blairgowrie, and High Street, Rattray - and roads in between - he drove a Vauxhall Corsa with 109 microgrammes of alcohol on his breath.

That is almost five times above the legal limit of 22 microgrammes.

Not guilty pleas were accepted to stealing the vehicle - and keys from Walnut Grove the same day and using it without insurance.

Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney said police received a call about 7pm in relation to a two-vehicle accident.

They attended and spoke to one of those involved who pointed to the accused as being the “driver of the other vehicle.”

Townsley told police he had been driving and officers carried out a roadside breath test.

He was then taken to Perth Police HQ where further tests were carried out and the reading libelled was provided.

Solicitor Paul Ralph told the court: “It was his mother’s car so he has some explaining to do.”

He had “lost his way” - and his job - following an earlier conviction and his parents were helping him out with his mortgage.

Deferring sentence for a Community Justice Social Work report, Sheriff Wade observed: “The level of reading was very significant in this case.”