Visittoexleadsto drink-drivingban

A Perthshire man’s“foolish decision”to visit his ex-girlfriend in the early hours had disastrous repercussions.

For 36-year-old Shaw Smith was pulled over by police who described him as “bleary eyed and smelling of alcohol.”

He gave a roadside breath test which indicated he had been driving with more than three times the legal alcohol limit. But when he was arrested and taken to Perth Police HQ, he refused to take part in any further drink/driving procedures.

The accused, of Main Street, Methven, was banned for a year when he appeared for sentence at Perth Sheriff Court. He will also have to complete a further 165 hours of unpaid work by next January.

He admitted failing to provide breath specimens for analysis at the Barrack Street police office on February 4 this year.

The court heard he had been stopped in Ashgrove, Rattray, just after 5am. The first breathalyser reading indicated he had been behind the wheel with 68 microgrammes of alcohol - the maximum allowed is 22.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said he was asked to provide two further breath samples shortly after 6.30am.

He offered no explanation for refusing the first and was given another opportunity but no samples were provided.

Solicitor Billy Somerville said:“He foolishly decided to go and see his ex-girlfriend about 4.30am to discuss matters about the birth of their child.

“It was the wrong thing to do as she didn’t want him.”

He accepted he hadn’t provided any explanation for not giving the further breath tests.

The court was told that he is currently carrying out a Community Payback Order.

The further hours of unpaid work will be consecutive to that order but both will have to be completed by January 16, 2019.