Double-limit drink driver was on way to see mum in hospital

A van driver was caught driving in Stirling’s Kings Park in the early hours while more than double the drinkdriving limit.

Twenty-year-old Conor McPhee this week admitted a charge of drink driving in Drummond Place near its junction with Snowdon Place on January 31 this year.

The proportion of alcohol in his breath was 49mg in 100 ml. The limit is 22mg.

Fiscal depute Lindsay Brooks told Sheriff Wyllie Robertson on Wednesday that McPhee had been driving a Transit van and was stopped by police at 4am because of the nature of the driving.

Officers could smell alcohol from McPhee and the usual procedure followed.

McPhee, who lives with his parents in Banknock, made no reply to caution and charge.

His lawyer Virgil Crawford explained that McPhee had been at a friend’s house in Stirling where he intended to stay overnight.

He had been drinking cider.

However, his mother has a medical condition from which she suffers extreme pain on a regular basis. She faints and requires medication.

Mr McPhee, said Mr Crawford, had received a call that his mother had collapsed and had been taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

He decided to drive there as he didn’t think he would be over the limit.

Mr Crawford added:“He misjudged that. He doesn’t dispute the reading when he was taken to the police station. He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”

McPhee works with his father in a landscape gardening business earning £100 per week, although a fraction of that is taken back as keep money.

Nothwithstanding the loss of his licence he would continue with that job, said the lawyer.

Sheriff Robertson fined McPhee £600 payable at a rate of £10 per week.

It had been reduced from £900 to take account of the guilty plea.

McPhee was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and his licence was endorsed.

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