The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Star ‘ordered vodka’ before breath test
Court: Singer Nutini denies charge of drink-driving after trip to bar
Scottish singer Paolo Nutini was seen behind the wheel of a Mini after ordering vodka in a bar, a court has heard.
Witness Colin May said he saw Nutini and a friend ordering rounds in DeBeers bar in Paisley.
He reported the singer to police after spotting him driving a car shortly after leaving the pub on February 21 this year, Paisley Sheriff Court heard.
Nutini, 30, is on trial accused of driving on various streets in Paisley while more than twice the legal limit on February 21.
It is alleged he drove with 48 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the limit of 22 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.
The New Shoes singer denies the charge.
His defence agent Massimo Franchi said his defence is “post-incident drinking”.
Mr May told the court he went into DeBeers pub at 10.10pm on February 21 and took a seat at the bar. Mr Nutini was sitting at a table with another man and a woman.
During the hour-and-ahalf in the bar, he noticed Mr Nutini buy one round at the bar and the other man buy two rounds, he said.
Fiscal depute Frank Clarke asked: “Were you able to hear what was ordered?” He replied: “From memory, I believe it was vodka, more than one, but I could not be certain of that.” Mr May said Nutini left the bar 10 minutes before him and he next saw him 15 minutes later in the driver seat of a Mini at lights on Maxwellton Street and Canal Street, with a woman in the car.
The defence agent asked if Mr Nutini could have been ordering a soft drink, saying: “You cannot tell the court if he ordered vodka or soda and lime.” Mr May replied: “I believe I heard vodka being ordered but not anything else.”
Police officer Laura Murray was called to Canal Street towards midnight to a report of a car being driven by someone who had been drinking.
The car was no longer there when they arrived but they went to an address where they found a Mini and Mr Nutini, whom they’d been told was the driver.
Constable Murray told the court Nutini tested positive for alcohol and was taken to Govan Police Station, travelling in the back seat next to her.
She said: “The accused was speaking freely, stating that he had been at DeBeers that night watching football with friends and consuming alcohol. He said he had been drinking vodka with friends.”
Asked whether he mentioned drinking when he got home, she said: “He said he had had a mouthful of wine at home and this later changed to saying he had a mouthful of whisky.”
The trial continues.
“I believe it was vodka, more than one, but I could not be certain of that”