BOOZE-pROBLEM TYcOON faILS TO GET caR BaN aXEd
Former football boss will be off the road until 2026
a footbal l boss turned business tycoon has failed to have a seven-year driving ban cut short.
A court heard that Vinnie Moore, who admitted having a drink problem, has racked up disqualifications totalling 17 years.
The former Albion Rovers manager is founder and chairman of Glasgow-based Simple Group, which suppl ies businesses with IT services and office equipment.
His latest ban was imposed in
2019 after Moore, of Uddingston, Lanarkshire, was found by his wife almost unconscious behind the wheel of his car.
He admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs and failing to take a breath test but claimed medication for anxiety had made him drowsy.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard last week that Moore, 58, has two previous convictions for drink-related driving offences.
He made an application for the seven-year ban to be lifted. It was not due to expire until 2026.
Sol icitor Paul Kavanagh lodged references on his behalf and said having his licence back would benefit his business.
He stated: “There is a distinct difference in the circumstances of the last offence. That involved him taking prescribed medication and, unlike previous offences, there was no alcohol consumption.”
Sheriff Liam Murphy was told that Moore has not committed any further offences since 2019 but he refused the application, saying it was too soon to allow him to drive again.
Moore played for teams including
Airdrie, Ayr United and Clydebank during his career.
In 2019 his defence counsel, Gordon Jackson, said the “demon drink” was a “major problem” for him.
He explained that Moore had missed a court date after going on a binge while on holiday in Europe. He had his credit card and phone stolen and his wife and brother-in-law had to fly to Germany to bring him home.
Jackson told the court: “He had taken his wife to Venice for her birthday but, while there, he fell off the wagon and the demon drink, which has been a major problem for him, kicked in.
“He and his wife then travelled to Frankfurt before she went home, leaving him at Frankfurt Airport, where he stayed for a number of days.
“At least twice he booked a flight home but never made it. Then everything he had, including his credit card and phone, was stolen.
“His card records show someone used it to book f l ights to Toronto and Afghanistan.
“He was in a terrible state but eventually a young American woman spoke to him. She obtained phone numbers which led to his wife and brother-in-law flying to Frankfurt to take him home.
“To add insult to injury, he then had an accident and ended up in hospital for some time.”
As well as being given a seven-year driving ban, Moore was placed under social work supervision for 12 months and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid community work.
He had taken his wife to Venice for her birthday but he fell off the wagon