Holidaying crash driver hid in bothy

A COUPLE from Skye called the police after finding an empty car crashed at the side of the A82 near Bridge of Orchy and prompted a major police search by officers from Glencoe and Oban.

But the driver was found later, hiding back at the bothy where his family was on holiday, Oban Sheriff Court heard last week.

Stephen Nicholson of 48 Ellis Island Avenue, Clydebank, denied drink-driving on June 29 last year on the A82; he had a breath test reading of 60 when the legal limit is 22 micrograms of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath.

The court heard that police were concerned for the safety of the driver, whom they feared might be injured and wandering in the remote countryside. Their late-night investigations led them to Smithy Bothy in Glen Etive where Nicholson and his extended family were on holiday.

The family told officers Nicholson had left earlier and that children were asleep in the other room of the bothy. Officers decided to return and check the room and found Nicholson.

Nicholson said after the accident he had been given a lift part of the way and walked the rest of the 19 miles back. He had then drunk vodka, Jack Daniels and lager before going to bed.

Finding him guilty, Sheriff Ruth Anderson QC said: ‘I don’t accept the evidence; I don’t believe it.’ Nicholson was disqualified from driving for 15 months and fined £500.