Payback order after hitting cop with car

Drink-driver banned from road for four years

A Hamilton driver who injured a police officer by dragging him when driving his vehicle away from a group of officers was this week ordered to carry out unpaid work.

The officers had been standing alongside Hugh Mcallister Stewart’s vehicle while attending to the accused at Church Street in Larkhall on August 24.

However Stewart, of Comely Bank, tried to drive off and constable Allan Paterson was struck by the vehicle.

Thirty-six-year-old Stewart admitted a charge of culpably and recklessly attempting to drive a motor vehicle.

He also admitted a charge of driving a car on Union Street, Larkhall, that day while almost more than three times over the alcohol limit.

Stewart had 63mg of breath in 100 millilitres of breath. The limit being 22mg.

He had carried out the offences while on bail on another matter.

Stewart’s not guilty plea to a charge of driving a vehicle without a proper test certificate was accepted by the Crown.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Sheriff Andrew Mcintyre imposed a community payback order as an alternative to custody.

It required that Stewart carry out 208 hours’ unpaid work within 12 months and attend alcohol counselling as and when directed by his supervising officer. A Community Payback Order review hearing was set for October 28.

He was also disqualified from driving for four years on the drinkdriving charge.

The Crown had put forward a motion for the forfeiture of the vehicle. However, this was opposed by the defence and the motion was refused by the court.

The offences were carried out while on bail on another matter