Drunk driver smashed into pole

A driver was still more than five times over the legal drink limit several hours after smashing into a telegraph pole outside his house.

Alarmed neighbours went to investigate after hearing a “loud bang,” Perth Sheriff Court was told.

A Vauxhall Astra coupe was seen on the verge – and the telegraph pole was lying “in the middle of the road,” according to depute fiscal Robbie Brown.

The smash led to the closure of the B958, between Errol and St Madoes, for an unspecified time.

And it also proved a costly crash for 41-year-old Stanislaw Macina, of Yarrow Corner, The Cross, Errol.

His girlfriend’s car was a write-off, he lost his job – and then lost his liberty –when he appeared for sentence this week.

He was jailed for a total of five months and banned for 28 months after pleading guilty to four motoring charges. He drove with 266 milligrammes of alcohol in his blood – the legal limit is 50 – on December 3, 2017.

He also had no insurance and, being a provisional licence holder, had failed to display ‘L’ plates.

A final charge of taking away the car without the owner’s consent was also admitted.

The court heard that the accused’s partner had left the car near their home.

The keys were in the house and she had gone to bed.

Neighbours then heard the noise outside at about 8pm and saw the accused, who “appeared to be in some pain.”

Two half-bottles of whisky were found in the vehicle.

But it wasn’t until about 11.30pm that the drink/driving procedure took place.

Solicitor Cliff Culley said: “It was a high reading and has had serious consequences for both him and his partner.

“He appreciates that alcohol was a significant factor in his decision making. He has now stopped drinking but would appreciate any help that can be offered.”

Sheriff William Wood noted that the accused was a first offender but a background report revealed that he had been at a barbecue the previous day and had been drinking vodka and beer “to excess.”

He had then continued to drink more beer the following day before taking his partner’s car.

The court heard: “It’s perhaps no wonder that there was a collision and it was mere chance that it happened to be with a telegraph pole rather than another road user.”

The sheriff pointed out that he was still more than five times over the legal limit a “number of hours” after the accident.

He added: “In these circumstances, I am satisfied that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”

The driving ban was backdated to June 22 when an interim disqualification was imposed.

It’schanceithappenedwithapoleratherthananotherroaduser