Drink-driver spared jail term by sheriff

A DRINK-driver who caused a crash while he was more than five times the limit has avoided a prison sentence

Jay Clark, 21, of Ballindean Road, has been placed under supervision for two years and disqualified from driving for 18 months by Sheriff Alastair Carmichael.

He had previously admitted drinking with excess alcohol and reversing at speed on to a pavement, smashing into another car and causing it to shunt forward into another car, damaging both.

His reading for alcohol was 127 mics, the legal limit being 22 mics, after being tested following the incident on Sunday February 18 at Caird Terrace and Hepburn Street.

Fiscal depute Joanne Smith told Dundee Sheriff Court that when Clark was confronted by the owner of one of the damaged cars, he jumped across the bonnet of his own car and moved towards the man, who moved away and called police.

She told the court: “At 8.30pm a female was walking her dog and heard tyres screeching and a car was seen to reverse southwards at speed on Caird Terrace.

“The witness was concerned for herself and her dog and watched the car come to an abrupt stop before mounting the pavement again, driving into the rear of a car, causing it to shunt forward into another parked vehicle.

“The owner of one of the damaged cars approached the accused and said to him: ‘You just hit my ******* car’ and the accused said he did ******* not. After the witness called police the man was traced in a flat in Hepburn Street after sniffer dogs led officers to a common close.”

Solicitor advocate Jim Laverty said Clark was “remorseful”.

“He has never had road traffic offences before, and following the incident words were exchanged back and forth and the initial comments came from the complainer and unfortunately he reacted in the way he did,” he said.

Clark admitted driving carelessly and causing the accident, driving without insurance, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and swearing and acting aggressively, while on two bail orders.

Clark also admitted failing to stop and give his name and address to anyone after the accident.

Sheriff Carmichael placed him on a two-year community payback order and a four-month restriction of liberty order from 7pm-7am.

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The sheriff court.