Driver banned from roads after downing two bottles of wine

A drink-driver downed a bottle of wine before crashing his car – then drank another bottle before police arrived.

Duncan Cooke was found to be more than six times the legal drinkdrive limit when tested at a police station following the incident.

The 37-year-old had earlier pled guilty to driving his Ford Mondeo on the Gilmerton to Dunkeld road, near Inver, on May 17 with 136 mics of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 22.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told Perth Sheriff Court that police were called after Cooke had crashed his car.

He said: “At about 5.45pm, the witness was on the A822 Gilmerton to Dunkeld road when he observed the accused’s vehicle, which had been crashed into the verge. He further witnessed the accused staggering about.

“The witness called police and at about 6pm a constable carried out a search for the accused, finding him at the top of the banking.

“At that time he was drinking from a bottle, which he finished.”

He said a roadside breath test recorded a reading of 126 mics, which rose to 136 when he was tested at the station.

Inside the car officers discovered an empty wine bottle, an empty beer can and another bottle of wine, which was half full.

Cooke’s solicitor said he was battling an alcohol problem after the breakdown of a relationship. He said: “He consumed a bottle of wine before driving, and a bottle of wine after driving.

“It appears things have spiralled out of control since 2012, with the breakdown of his relationship. He seeks solace in a bottle.”

He said Cooke had “exercised poor judgment” in deciding to get behind the wheel.

He added that the hydraulic engineer was reliant on his mother for transport and a disqualification would cause him difficulty.

However, Sheriff William Wood banned Cooke, of Luchan Lodge, Amulree, from driving for four years and ordered him to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

He was also made the subject of an 18-month supervision order with an alcohol treatment requirement.