Five-year ban for drink-drive joiner

A DUNDEE man caught drink-driving three times in the space of a month has been banned from the road for five years.

Wojciech Szyszka, 44, was caught behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol on three separate occasions between February and March this year.

The joiner, of Seaforth Road, Broughty Ferry, avoided having his car seized by the Crown after it emerged his partner is pregnant.

He was increasingly over the limit – on the last incident he was nearly six times the 22 mic limit.

He admitted drink driving on February 2 ( 93 mics), February 17 (119 mics) and March 7 (130 mics).

Sheriff John Rafferty also sentenced Szyszka to a community payback order of 80 hours’ unpaid work “as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence”.

He must resit the driving test after that five-year period.

Depute fiscal Lee Corr earlier told the court: “On February 2... he i nformed his partner he was going to a nearby supermarket to purchase alcohol.

“Police were contacted and a report was made that he was driving under the influence of alcohol.

He gave a positive breath test but told police: “I did not drink and drive.” He was released by police on an undertaking and told to appear in court later.

Mr Corr said: “The second offence took place on February 17 when a report was received at control room that a vehicle was seen being driven by a man who was under the influence of alcohol.

“Police officers stated he had slurred speech, was unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol.”

Szyszka’s partner was at home at 6.30 pm on March 7 when she looked out and saw the accused entering their driveway. The accused was seen to move the car back and forward in the driveway and he collided with the garden wall and his partner’s vehicle, causing minor damage.

“He entered the property and his partner smelled alcohol from him so she called police.

“He was arrested and taken to police HQ in Dundee.”

Solicitor Nicky Brown, defending, said: “The family were under stress at the time... He has reacted in the worst possible way to the stress.”

Wojciech Szyszka.