Road ban for soldier snared after drinking session with relative

Private stopped early morning was four times the limit

A serving soldier has been chastised by his army bosses after he was caught driving while almost four times the legal limit.

Sam Lauder, 21, from Paisley, had been enjoying a drinking session at a relative’s house when he decided to get behind the wheel of his white Vauxhall Astra and go for a drive shortly before 6am.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Lauder, who is a private in the army, was pulled over by plain clothes police officers in an unmarked car because of his ropey driving on May 10.

Procurator fiscal depute Laura Wilcox told the court : “Plain clothed officers in an unmarked car were on mobile patrol at around 5.45am in Johnstone.

“Their attention was drawn to a white Vauxhall Astra and they followed the vehicle due to the motorist’s manner of driving.

“When they stopped the vehicle at Branscroft, Kilbarchan, and approached, they noted the accused was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.

“He was agitated and appeared under the influence of alcohol.

“They requested police officers attend the incident.”

The court heard Lauder, from Greenlaw Avenue in the town’s east end, was given a roadside breath test by an other police patrol, which he failed.

He appeared in the dock this week where he pleaded guilty to driving his vehicle when the proportion of alcohol was 83 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, and the legal limit is 22 micrograms.

Defence agent Bob Mitchell said his client was a serving soldier, a private in the army, who has no previous convictions, and was admitting responsibility for the offence at the earliest opportunity.

He said: “He had been at a relative’s drinking and had no plans to go out and drive.

“He tells me he is not sure why he was driving around as his intention was to stay indoors.

“He will keep his employment but he is due to be sent to Afghanistan next year, and driving may have been part of his duties.

“His employers are not happy about this conviction.”

Mr Mitchell added that a senior officer was present at court who would be notifying his superiors about the proceedings.

Sheriff Seith Ireland showed mercy to the soldier, handing him a £420 fine, for pleading guilty to his first offence.

However, he disqualified him from driving for 16 months, and advised him to sit and pass the drink-drive rehabilitation course in order to have his ban reduced by 25 per cent.