DRINK-DRIVE OAP BANNED

Pensioner had twice legal limit

A 75-year-old Stirling man caught behind the wheel while more than twice the legal drink drive limit has been fined and banned from the roads.

Andrew McNaughton, of Pelstream Avenue, drove on Barnton Street with 47 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath on May 29. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes. Stirling Sheriff Court heard that McNaughton’s vehicle was stopped by police at around 1.15am after a member of the public raised the alarm.

Officers pulled him over and noticed that he was the sole occupant within the car.

After speaking with McNaughton it became clear that he was under the influence of alcohol.

His eyes were glazed and his speech slurred.

A specimen of breath was taken and, after this gave a positive result, he was taken away to the police station where two further specimens of breath were given and he was cautioned and charged.

The court was told that, on the day in question, McNaughton, who is retired and has two grown up daughters, had driven to Glasgow to see his wife in hospital.

He had spent most of the afternoon there and returned home later in the day.

Defence solicitor Mr Cox said: “His position is that he returned home from the hospital before going out for a Chinese takeaway.

“When he arrived at his local he noticed that it was shut so he went to another one.

“He was told that his order would take some time so he went into a local establishment for one large glass of red wine while he waited.

“He left 30 minutes later, picked up his carryout and got in the car.

“He was then stopped by the police.”

Mr Cox added: “The position is that he was drinking on an empty stomach and that he had one large glass of wine.

“He was surprised to be pulled over as he felt he was sober and able to drive. This was his first offence and he hardly left the parking space. “He was stopped there and then. “I ask that you deal with this as leniently as possible.”

Sentencing McNaughton, Sheriff Richard McFarlane said: “At your time of life it is regretful you now have this conviction.

“Your only saving grace is that this came to light due to a member of the public concerned about you, and not as a result of an accident which could have had significant consequences for other road users.

“I am going to take into account your many years driving without incident and the personal circumstances.

“However, I do have difficulty with the fact that you were prepared to have a drink and drive.

“You are aware now that any drink can have an affect on your ability to drive.”

He was fined £600 and banned from driving for a period of 14 months.

McNaughton was also offered the opportunity to undertake a drink drivers’ rehabilitation course which could see his ban discounted by four months.