£500 fine and 32-month road ban for tanked-up accused

A dad was busted at five times the limit when his daughter reported him to cops for drink-driving, a court was told.

Tanked- up John Aitken, 58, was stopped near to St James’ interchange on September 28, after a worried relative tipped off cops.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Aitken was found at the A737 between Linclive and St James’ interchanges at the wheel of his Renault Clio.

This week he appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of driving while having 99 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

Defence agent Chris McKenna revealed Aitken had fallen out with his daughter, who lives in the Renfrewshire area, and had got behind the wheel of his motor intoxicated, leading to her contacting police amid fears for his and for others road users’ safety.

Mr McKenna said: “He had an argument with his daughter and while under the influence of alcohol decided he wanted to go home.

“He had been staying at his daughter’s during the course of argument and it was his family member who contacted police.

“Since then his car has been seized and destroyed by police. “He has no intention to drive again. “He is a single man with significant health problems. And he has been very saddened by the loss of his wife.

“He takes full responsibility for what he has done. “He realises it was a stupid thing to do. “Fortunately, he enjoys the support of his family and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”

The lawyer added the accused had been overcome with depression following the death of his wife and had taken to drink as a result.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew said he was prepared to spare Aitken, of Boghead Avenue, Dumbarton, custody given his previous good character and the circumstances surrounding the offence.

He said: “You have had a clean licence and managed to reach a mature age before finding yourself here at all.

“Whether you choose to drive or not, I will deal with this by way of a period of disqualification and a monetary fine.

“It would have been £ 750 but I will reduce that to £ 500 and your disqualification of three years will be reduced to 32 months given your plea.”

He had been staying at his daughter’s and it was his family member who contacted police Chris McKenna