Drink-driver traced after abandoning car handed fine and ban

Court: Sheriff previous told first offender his alcohol count must have been ‘stratospheric’

A drink-driver who abandoned his smashed car alongside a main road before completing his journey home on foot, where he was found by police still close to four times the legal limit, has been fined and banned.

First offender Stephen Stephen got behind the wheel after having to wait too long for a taxi after a festive night out in Montrose.

But the 24-year-old labourer did not realise how far over the drink-drive limit he was and lost control of his Audi A3 on the road home to St Cyrus, hitting a tree on the opposite side of the A92.

A police sniffer dog picked up Stephen’s trail heading towards the Mearns village after it was brought in for the early hours search and the accused held his hands up when officers arrived at his door.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told Forfar Sheriff Court a passer-by called police shortly before 3am on December 27 after seeing the crashed car abandoned on the road near Kinnaber.

“

This is completely outof character for him and he pled guilty to this from day one

“The vehicle had sustained significant damage and no one was present,” said the fiscal.

“A search was carried out, including a police dog unit and a dog tracked along the A92 leading towards St Cyrus,” added Ms Drummond.

Police from Stonehaven went to the accused’s home, where Stephen had arrived just minutes earlier, around 3.45am.

Stephen, of Invergarry Park, St Cyrus, previously admitted driving on the A92 Montrose to St Cyrus road on December 27 with an excess alcohol reading of 74 microgrammes against a legal limit of 22.

A sheriff previously said the accused’s alcohol count must have been “stratospheric” at the time of the crash.

A plea of not guilty to dangerous driving was accepted by the Crown.

Defence solicitor Robin Beattie said: “He is not a regular drinker and didn’t know whether he was over the limit or not.

“He hadn’t planned to consume alcohol and waited for an hour and a half for a taxi.

“He then takes a chance and apologises to the court for doing that.

“This is completely out of character for him and he pled guilty to this from day one,” said Mr Beattie.

Sheriff Jillian Martin-brown said “I note the report indicates you are remorseful for your actions.”

She fined Stephen £335 and banned him from driving for 12 months.

gbrown@thecourier.co.uk