Boozy motorist left driver with horror injuries
Drinking session at golfing day out ended in accident
A motorist was almost SIX times the limit when he ploughed headon into another driver, a court was told.
Booze- sodden Martin Valerio, 53, had been on a golfing day out when he returned home to Bishopton and decided to get behind the wheel with disastrous consequences for motorist Yvonne Lapping.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Valerio, of Lyle Crescent in the town, drove his Ford Mondeo into path of Miss Lapping’s Honda Jazz on August 12 at Greenock Road, Bishopton, leaving her with agonising injuries including a broken hand, fractured ribs, and extensive bruising to her knee, ankle, collarbone and face.
He had been attempting to overtake a parked car in the main street when he ploughed into Miss Lapping who was travelling in the opposite direction, the court heard.
Fiscal depute Ian Meacock said when cops attended the scene of the smash, adjacent to a carryout restaurant, they noticed the strong smell of booze coming from the accused.
He said: “A sample reading of 122 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath recorded when he was taken into custody and given the intoximeter tests.
“He was detained and taken to Greenock Police Station but not cautioned and charged due to the level of intoxication.
“As a result of the accident Miss Lapping suffered broken bones in her right hand, suspected broken ribs, suffered marked bruising to her right ankle, right knee, bruising around her hairline, collarbone.
“While the accused suffered superficial cuts to his face.”
Valerio pleaded guilty to charges of driving with 122 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 22 microgrammes per 100 millilitres and to driving dangerously forcing Miss Lapping to swerve with the outcome leading to a crash, injuring them both.
Defence agent Ronnie Simpson said first offender Valerio had been out on a golfing day out with pals involving social drinking when he made the “disastrous decision” to drive when he got home later that evening.
He said: “He knows just how serious this is. He has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He deeply regrets his decision to drive that evening and knows this is entirely his fault.
“He had got home that evening and saw his partner was out. He thought she might be in the Bishopton social club and he got in his vehicle and drove only 150 yards when he collided with Miss Lapping.”
Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: “You are very fortunate this collision was not more serious. Miss Lapping suffered significant injuries.
“What if she had died? You would be in the high court facing a much more serious sentence of up to 10 years in jail.
“One really can’t understand how one could consume that amount of alcohol and consider driving a car.”
He placed Valerio on a community payback order lasting one year, with supervision, where the accused will perform 180 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community.