Twice the limit drink driver hit lampost

Motorist nabbed by cops

A boozy driver ploughed into a lamppost and ended up on a grass verge after answering a late-night summons from his girlfriend.

George Tah Meh, 47, was more than double the legal limit when he swerved his black Hyundai Coupe into a streetlight, completely demolishing the lamppost, before coming to rest with his motor up on the verge.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Tah Meh worked as a climate change officer, but had been made redundant as the a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He had been indoors, drinking wine, late on the evening of Saturday, August 8, when he got a call from his girlfriend to come and pick her up from the care home where she works.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Tanjeer Maleque told the court cops were told about the single vehicle smash by ambulance control at Cockels Loan, Renfrew, around 10.15pm.

He said: “Police witnesses observed the Hyundai on a verge at the locus.

“The vehicle had been attempting to turn from Tiree Avenue, and swerved to avoid a vehicle on the other side of the road, where it had struck the lamppost and came to a rest on a grass verge.

“The lamppost was knocked down and was lying on the grass verge.

“Police officers noticed the strong smell of alcohol coming from his breath.”

The motorist, who was uninjured in the smash, blew a roadside breath test and was promptly arrested by cops.

Earlier this week, Tah Meh, of Dunlop Street, Renfrew, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving his vehicle while the proportion of alcohol in his breath was 51 micrograms per 100 millilitres, and the legal limit is 22 micrograms.

Defence agent Kirsty McGeehan said her client was deeply remorseful over his actions and was admitting responsibility for the offence.

She said: “It was unfortunate. He was not contemplating that he was going to be driving that evening.

“His partner who works in a care home asked him to come and pick her up.

“He had been drinking wine and was clearly over the limit.

“He has pleaded guilty to the offence at the earliest opportunity.”

Sheriff Suhkwinder Gill tore a strip off the motorist, who has racked up nine previous convictions for driving offences.

She said: “You have nine previous convictions, although the last one dates from 2009, but you do have convictions for invalid insurance and disqualified driving.”

She banned him from driving for 16 months and fined him £ 700, payable at £ 100 per month.

It was unfortunate. He was not contemplating that he was going to be driving that evening