14-month ban for drunk driver who was four times limit

Sheriff blasts accused and dishes out £1,200 fine

A boozed- up driver who was nabbed four times the legal limit outside an off licence, has been hammered by a sheriff.

David Craig, 54, was discovered slumped behind the wheel with his engine running and he had an empty wine bottle and a cider can on his passenger seat, when pulled up by the cops.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard motor repair worker Craig, of Loanhead Road, Linwood, had drawn the attention of police while parked up in his Vauxhall Corsa hatchback outside the shop at Blackstoun Road in the town on October 20, last year.

Fiscal depute Masooma Jaffri said: “At 8.30pm, police officers approached a parked vehicle at the locus where they saw the driver sitting, his engine was running. They saw an empty can of cider and an empty wine bottle on the passenger seat.

“They noticed the driver was under the influence of alcohol and road side procedures were carried out.

“The accused was taken into custody where a sample was taken which revealed he had 192 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of blood. He was not cautioned and charged at that point.”

Defence agent Paul Coyle said the accused lived relatively close to the shop where he was stopped by the cops and accepted he was facing a ban.

He said: “He is aware that he is facing a period of disqualification for the offence and I would ask the court consider imposing a Community Payback Order with a significant financial penalty.

“He had changed his employment since the offence and he has since taken a new job outside Edinburgh where he will be engaged in the manufacture and bodybuilding of vehicles.

“He will be using public transport to take up this employment as he has lost his driving licence. He maintains a good relationship with relatives and enjoys the support of his family.”

At a pre-trial hearing, Craig had pleaded guilty to charges of being in charge of his vehicle at Blackstoun Road, Paisley, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of drink in his blood was 192 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of blood, when the proscribed limit is 50 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of blood.

Sheriff James Spy told the accused: “Given the level of the reading, any financial penalty must be reflected in the level of the fine.

“I will imposed a fine of £1,200 reduced from £1,500 because of the plea at an early stage. You will also be disqualified from driving or hold a licence for 14 months. And you will receive no discount for your participation in the drink driving rehabilitation course.”

Coyle was ordered to pay the fine at £150 per month.