Taxi crash OAP was almost four times over limit

He’s banned for 12 months

A pensioner was drunk when he collided with a taxi driver during a late night prang, a court heard.

John McColgan, 70, was almost four times the legal limit for driving his diesel Peugeot 308 when he was involved in a minor smash at High Street, Johnstone, on September 10.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the accused, of Watson Avenue, Linwood, had been driving for 53 years without incident until the night in question, when he took to the road under the influence.

Fiscal depute Ian Meacock said: “At around 11.35pm on the date a taxi was driving in High Street, Johnstone, where the accused was driving towards him, also at the High Street.

“Th e re f o l l owed a collision with the vehicles. Minor injuries were suffered by the other driver.

“The police were called, and duly attended the scene.

“When officers attended they noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from the accused. When a woman officer asked him if he was driving, he replied: ‘It was me, hen.’”

The court heard the accused was arrested after he blew a roadside breath test, recording 77 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, and he was taken to Greenock Police Station for further tests using the machine.

While in custody the pensioner recorded two readings of 81 and 82 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 22 microgrammes of alcohol, and he was formally cautioned and charged but made no reply.

Yesterday, defence agent Paul Lynch said: “Mr McColgan is 70 which means he has been driving since he was 17, some 53 years and during that time he only accumulated three points on his licence, and that was back in the 1970s.

“Very few men get to that age with only three points on their licence.

“It is regrettable. He never went out with the intention of driving drunk but for reasons known only to himself he took the car home.

“He is a widower with four grown- up children and was using his car on a daily basis. He understands that as a result of these proceedings he will be disqualified.”

The lawyer urged the court to take into account his previous unblemished record, his plea of guilty at the earliest opportunity, and his admission of responsibility.

Sheriff Linda Smith concurred adding: “Taking into account your plea of guilty at the earliest opportunity, and given the circumstances of your driving record, I am prepared to deal with this by way of a fine and period of disqualification, granting an appropriate discount.”

He was fined £ 235 reduced from £ 350, banned from the road for 12 months, reduced from 18 months, given his early plea of guilty. BUILDING CONTRACTORS. EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION SPECIALISTS.