Drink-driver slammed over ‘stratospheric’ breath alcohol levels

COURT: Man tried to drive home but crashed his car into tree and walked

A sheriff has banned a motorist, saying he must have had a “stratospheric” drink-drive reading when he crashed his car after a festive night out.

Stephen Stephen of St Cyrus stumbled home from his wrecked vehicle after abandoning it between Montrose and the village.

He was still more than three times the legal drink-drive limit when police caught up with him.

The 24-year-old has been disqualified from driving and will be sentenced next month.

A sheriff said he needed a background report after expressing concern about the high alcohol count and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Stephen, of Invergarry Park, St Cyrus appeared before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar where he admitted driving on Montrose to St Cyrus road on December 27 with excess alcohol.

His breath alcohol reading was 74

“

This is a high reading – on countback your reading must have been fairly stratospheric when this happened. SHERIFF GREGOR MURRAY

microgrammes against a legal limit of 22. A plea of not guilty to dangerous driving was accepted by the Crown.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said Stephen had been out drinking and had attempted to drive home to St Cyrus.

“He lost control of the vehicle, crossing the carriageway and colliding with a tree, coming to rest on the verge,” said Mr Kermode.

“The accused then made his way home by foot, leaving the vehicle unattended and debris on the road.”

The court heard a passing member of the public contacted police to report the abandoned vehicle.

When officers went to the scene they checked the registration details and found it was insured under Stephen’s name.

Mr Kermode added: “Police were sent to his home address and they found the accused there. He had minor injuries, consistent with being in a road accident.”

Stephen admitted being the driver and provided a positive drink-drive reading.

Sheriff Murray told him: “This is a high reading – on countback your reading must have been fairly stratospheric when this happened.”

Sentence was deferred until February 15 for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and Stephen was disqualified in the meantime.

gbrown@thecourier.co.uk