Drink-driver ploughed into car in village after losing his job

A man who drove while drunk during the festive season crashed into another car in Carnock.

Richard Brown, from Dunfermline, lost control on a bend and swerved into the opposite carriageway, causing the smash.

Both Brown, 42, and the other driver were taken to hospital.

The incident led to Brown, of Rose Street, appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He previously admitted that on December 21 in Main Street, Carnock, he drove carelessly, crossed to the opposite carriageway and collided with another car, whereby both vehicles were damaged.

He also admitted driving with excess alcohol. His reading was 136 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the limit being 50mg.

Depute fiscal Jennifer Graham said the incident occurred at around 4pm.

Brown was taking a bend and went into the path of another car, causing a collision and forcing the other vehicle up on a kerb and against a fence.

Brown was trapped in his vehicle, which had sustained extensive damage, and the fire service was called.

A blood sample was taken from Brown at 9.15pm.

The court heard Brown was already on a community payback order imposed in January.

Defence solicitor Elaine Buist said: “He’s very much ashamed of this incident. He had lost his job and was feeling depressed around last Christmas.”

Sheriff Craig McSherry fined Brown £400 and put him on a community payback order with 16 months’ supervision.

He banned Brown from driving for 16 months.