Driver who was nearly five times drink limit banned for two years

A driver, who went on a drunken joy ride from Perth to Fife with no valid licence and almost five times over the limit, has been banned from the roads for two years.

As well as the motoring offences, 28-year-old Lindsay Smith also ignored Covid restrictions when he headed off to Edinburgh.

He crashed the car on the M90 near Kelty.

Smith, 28, of Strathtay Road, Letham, appeared back in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He previously admitted that on December 9 on the M90 near Kelty he drove without a valid licence and without insurance.

He also drove having consumed excess alcohol. His reading was 105 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 22 microgrammes.

He further admitted he travelled between Perth and Kelty without reasonable excuse, in breach of coronavirus regulations.

Depute fiscal Jill Currie said the incident occurred at around 8.30pm. Smith and another person had been drinking and decided to go to Edinburgh.

“He lost control of the vehicle and struck the central reservation. The vehicle was significantly damaged and other drivers stopped to assist,” she added.

Police were contacted and checks showed that Smith was the holder of an expired provisional licence.

The court was told Smith is unemployed and is already on a community payback order.

Sheriff Alison Michie told Smith the consequences of his action could have been “catastrophic”.

She imposed a two-year driving ban and an 11week restriction of liberty order. Smith was also fined £160 for breaching the travel restrictions

The vehicle was significantly damaged