Man crashed mobility scooter and failed to give breath sample

A man crashed his mobility scooter into a lamp-post and then failed to give police officers a breath sample.

Eric Stewart is currently serving a jail term for mowing down a child on the same scooter in Dundee city centre a few months before.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard police were contacted after concerns that Stewart, 39, was driving the vehicle while under the influence.

Prosecutor Jenna Grattan said: “Upon seeing the accused, police immediately noted he was under the influence of drink or drugs on December 22.

“He was extremely unsteady even in his seat.

“Officers noted he had a laceration on his head. The accused stated he had crashed his scooter into a lamp-post earlier that day.”

Stewart was thereafter asked to provide a specimen of breath.

However, he was sucking instead of blowing into the device and was not compliant with the police.

Stewart, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pled guilty to failing to provide specimens of breath to ascertain his ability to drive the mobility scooter on Hilltown and Ann Street.

In July Stewart was jailed for nine months and disqualified from driving for three years after pleading guilty to knocking down a four-yearold child with his scooter on Murraygate last August, causing what was described in court as a “dreadful scene”.

Stewart entered the dock on crutches for his appearance from custody. Solicitor Lesley Beatts said Stewart was beginning treatment to tackle his long-standing drug addiction.

Sentence was deferred until November 6 for reports.