Drink-drive director dodges jail sentence

A TOP Scots television director who drove for miles drunk along country roads dodged a jail term yesterday after his lawyer told a sheriff going to prison would lose him a £ 500,000 BBC deal.

Peter Barber-fleming (59) almost crashed into other cars and went over a grass verge while he drove around Stirlingshire in his Saab Convertible over two and half times the legal limit.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard the honorary Stirling University professor had drank more than a bottle of wine before setting off.

Barber-fleming, who worked on shows including Taggart, The Bill, Mortimer’s Law and Casualty, avoided custody yesterday despite it being his third drink driving conviction, with his lawyer arguing jail would “end his career” and result in the collapse of an 18-month BBC deal.

Barbara Hughes, prosecuting, said the incident occurred on January 7.

The depute fiscal said that around 6.10 pm Barber- Fleming’s car was spotted by another motorist and his passenger on the A811, 15 miles of Stirling.

Miss Hughes said: “The accused was seen veering towards the left and onto the grass verge.

“Cars had to swerve to avoid a collision. He was also seen to go across the central reservation, causing oncoming traffic to move out the way.”

She said police pulled him over in Doune and he was found to be “slurring his speech”. He was taken to Stirling police station, where he gave a breath sample which contained 92 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres. The legal limit is 35.

Barber- Fleming, of B r i d g e n d, Du n bl a n e , pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink-driving while over two-and-a-half times the legal limit.

His plea of not guilty to a further charge, of failing to stop when required to do so was accepted by the Crown.

Ke i t h M a c Ke n z i e , defending, said Barber- Fleming “had a long standing drinking problem”.

He said: “He is about to start an 18-month project with the BBC, which will have a budget of £500,000.

“The BBC have told him a custodial sentence would lead to the termination of the contract.

“He feels custody would also end his career.”

Sheriff William Gilchrist f ined Barber- Fleming £1000, ordered him to be put under supervision for 18 months, and banned him from the road for five years.