Drink-driver had kid in his car

A driver with a five-year-old passenger on board was under the influence when he nearly crashed his car.

Michael Donnelly was this week warned by a sheriff he was lucky not to be jailed for the offence.

Donnelly, 28, of Holly Grove, Holytown, was banned from driving for two years and put under social work supervision for the same period.

He must carry out 300 hours of unpaid community work and faces a three-month electronic tagging curfew.

Donnelly admitted driving dangerously while under the influence of alcohol on February 7 and exposing his young passenger to the risk of injury.The court heard he veered on to the wrong side of the road in Dalzell Drive, Motherwell, and had to swerve to avoid hitting an oncoming vehicle.

A breath test showed Donnelly was nearly five times over the drink limit.

Defence agent Anna MacKay said her client was“disgusted”by what he’d done.

She added:“He is mortified to find himself in this position.

“His family are shocked and upset at what took place.

“It will have ramifications in terms of his employment.”

Ms MacKay urged Sheriff Colin Dunipace not to jail Donnelly, saying a criminal justice social work report suggested a period of supervision would help.

The sheriff told Donnelly:“I consider this an extremely serious offence.

“You put not only yourself and other road users but, most significantly, a five-year-old child at great risk by driving in the manner you did.

“It’s only because you have no previous convictions that I can step back from a custodial sentence.

“You are very, very close to that. Think yourself lucky.”