Paolo cleared of drink-drive rap
Singer smiles after two-day trial at Paisley Sheriff Court
Singer Paolo Nutini wa s ye s t e rday cleared of drinkdriving through Paisley earlier this year.
The 30- year- old star emerged from a two-day trial smiling and looking relieved after he was found not guilty of the offence at Paisley Sheriff Court.
The Paisley- born New Shoes singer was accused of driving his grey Mini Cooper while twice the legal limit after a night out with friends in the town on February 21, this year.
However after a gruelling court battle, in which Paolo gave evidence himself, Sheriff Colin Pettigrew cleared him of the offence.
The trial heard the singer tell how he had been at a restaurant in Storie Street with friends and had decided to join pals at DeBeers Bar to watch a Champions’ League football match between Monaco and Manchester City.
And after supping three vodkas at the bar between 9pm and around 11.45pm, he had driven back to his house nearby with friends, when he was reported to police by a witness Colin May, who had spotted him in the bar.
However, the trial heard he had gone back to his house and drank single malt whisky and white wine by the time police arrived at his door to carry out a breath test around 12.30am. He failed this.
He was taken to Govan Police Station and tested with a machine at 1.46 am, which recorded a reading of 48 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the 22 microgrammes limit.
The trial heard Paolo had even joked with cops who were taking him to the station to be formally breathalysed and charged.
He said: “They were taking me to Govan and I said I hope that it’s a Celtic fan who is operating the machine.”
When quizzed by Fiscal Depute Frank Clarke about being a popular celebrity in Paisley who was being plied with drinks by well-wishers on the evening, he replied: “Not in Paisley they are not. Not everybody was rushing to buy drinks at the bar.”
The court was told Paolo had used the “hip- flask” defence, that the allegation was a result of his “postincident drinking,” which may have affected the reading recorded.
However, the singer admitted he had been “wrong” and “stupid” to try to work out whether he was fit to drive on the evening in question.
He said: “Now I’ l l definitely not be making my own estimation about whether or not I was okay or not to drive.
“That’s what I take from this experience.
“I was stupid and I was wrong. As soon as I was sat in the police car, I knew that was the case.”
Two forensic scientists, Mrs Karen Kerr, 42, from the Scottish Police Authority and Dr Paul Skett, 64, from the University of Glasgow, both testified that Paolo’s “post-incident drinking” may have affected his alcohol reading taken at the police station.
And both concurred he may have been under the limit when he drove home at around midnight after downing three vodkas, between 9.15pm and 11.45pm.
Defence agent Masimo Franchi urged the court to acquit the entertainer, who is a “proud Paisley Buddie,” who is “humble” and known for his “credibility, reliability, honesty.”
He said the Crown’s case did not prove beyond the “balance of probability” that Paolo drove home while over the limit.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew cleared the musician of the single charge after hearing evidence from police and experts about events on the night in question.
He told Paolo: “The charge contained in Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act was that you were driving on a public road with the proportion of alcohol in your breath of 48 microgrammes which exceeds the prescribed limit of 22 microgrammes.
“I find you not guilty of that charge.”
The singer was told he was free to go and left the dock to join his defence agent.
Paolo was looking relaxed and said he didn’t want to comment about the case as he left court in the company of his defence agent.