The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Scots singer Paolo Nutini cleared of drink-driving
Court: ‘Post incident drink’ defence
Scottish singer Paolo Nutini has been found not guilty of drink-driving in his home town.
The 30-year-old was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol while more than twice the legal limit in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on February 21.
The singer, who had denied the charge, was cleared by a sheriff following a two-day trial at Paisley Sheriff Court. His defence to the allegation was “postincident drinking”.
Constable Laura Murray told the first day of the trial she was called to Canal Street towards midnight on February 21 to a report of a car being driven by someone who had allegedly been drinking.
The car was no longer there when they arrived but they went to an address where they found a grey Mini and Nutini, who they had been told was the driver of the vehicle.
Constable Murray said she told Nutini he would need to do a breath test. Asked when his last drink was, the witness replied: “He said it was 10 minutes before police arrived.”
The officer said Nutini tested positive for alcohol and was then arrested and taken to Govan Police Station for a further test.
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.”
Nutini was accused of breaching the Road Traffic Act by driving with 48 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the 22 microgrammes limit.
He told the court he had gone for a meal with a friend that night and then went the bar at about 9.15pm to watch the end of a football match.
He said he had three vodkas with soda and lime over the course of a pub visit, which ended around 11.50pm, and drove home.
He admitted to the court he had been “stupid” and “wrong” to try to estimate whether he was fit to drive that night.
He said he had then consumed a large glass of whisky, part of a smaller glass of whisky and some wine at his home with friends before police arrived to breathalyse him.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew acquitted the musician of the single charge after evidence was led from several witnesses about events on the night in question.
Nutini left the court without comment.