The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
No car forfeit for drink-driver
Adrink-driver caught behind the wheel while almost six times over the limit has been spared having his car confiscated.
Stephen Bradford previously admitted driving on Citron Glebe in Kirkcaldy with 129 mics of alcohol in his system on March 19, well above the limit of 22.
Bradford, of Station Road in Cardenden, had dropped friends off at a pub before joining them.
An anonymous caller tipped off police in the early hours of the morning and officers pulled over the 56-year-old driver.
Fiscal depute Catherine Stevenson said: “At about 2am on March 19 2022, police received a call from a member of the public, who had witnessed a male driving a grey Peugeot car after he had consumed alcohol.”
Officers detected a smell of alcohol when talking to Bradford and described him as being unsteady on his feet.
He was breathalysed at the roadside before returning a lower reading of 129 mics at Kirkcaldy Police Station.
At a previous hearing at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Sheriff Maryam Labaki told him: “The reading is a very high reading,” before disqualifying him.
Sentence had been deferred for a social work report to be prepared, given the high reading.
His solicitor David Cranston said: “He’s not a regular offender.
“He seems to have had quite a normal life. Things have taken a turn.
“Alcohol seems to have got the better of him.
“It was not his plan to join friends.
“His decision-making seems to have been impaired.
“He will be able to maintain employment in Rosyth. He’s a hardworking individual.”
The Crown had earlier made a motion to forfeit Bradford’s car, which they valued at £6,400.
This was rejected, however, by Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith who, instead, disqualified Bradford for 18 months and gave him the option to complete the drinkdrivers rehabilitation course.
He also fined Bradford £1,040.
The sheriff said: “This is a serious offence, as you’ll understand.
“Clearly, 129 mics can properly be categorised to be very high.”