A retired Tayside solicitor whose wife drove home from a restaurant after drinking two bottles of wine told police that he was behind the wheel, a court heard.
Christopher Pope lied to officers when asked who was driving his wife Moira’s car from the Cambustay restaurant in Dundee’s Barnhill area last March.
A sheriff rejected Pope’s story, telling the 65-year-old he had “set out to deceive police” and knew “perfectly well” he had not been driving.
Pope faces a possible prison sentence when he returns to Dundee Sheriff Court in September, in a crime reminiscent of that of former cabinet minister Chris Huhne and ex-wife Vicky Pryce.
They were both jailed for eight months this year after Pryce lied and took speeding points on her licence when Huhne was caught on a speed camera.
Pope was found guilty on Tuesday by Sheriff Alastair Brown after a three-day trial for attempting to pervert the course of justice. Pope’s wife Moira, 65, was found guilty of driving a vehicle while unfit through drink.
A trial at Dundee Sheriff Court heard that the couple had gone for a meal with friends at the Cambustay on March 27 last year.
They arrived at the eatery at around 6.30pm, leaving at around 10pm.
Ann Mowat, a supervisor at the restaurant, said: “We were aware of how much she had to drink. The lady got behind the wheel and drove off after having two bottles of wine. We were standing at the window watching.”
Waitress Nicola McFarlane said: “We watched her driving off and called the police.”
PC Roderick Selfridge said he and fellow officer Mark Reid had been told to look out for a male drink-driver following the tip-off. They were later directed to Mrs Pope’s home.
Mr Selfridge said: “I asked her who was driving. She said it was Chris. I asked him and he said, ‘It was me’.
“I administered a breath test and it was negative the reading was zero. I later checked his licence and discovered it was revoked on medical grounds.
“Mrs Pope had clearly consumed alcohol. Her eyes were glazed, she was unsteady on her feet and I could smell the alcohol.
“We then went to the restaurant… and they told us it was the lady matching Mrs Pope’s description who had driven the car and that’s why they called the police.”
A friend of the couple, Tsa Giallobardo, insisted that Mr Pope had driven the car to Monifieth and that she and Mrs Pope were in the back of the vehicle.
Vincenzo Giallobardo said he had seen his wife and Mrs Pope get out of the back of the car at Monifieth and that Mr Pope emerged from the driver’s seat.
However, the Giallobardos’ evidence was described by Sheriff Brown as “not of sufficient substance”.
Mr Pope of Brechin Street, Arbroath, and Mrs Pope, Malcolm Crescent, Monifieth, had denied the charges on summary complaint at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Brown said: “I am satisfied that when the vehicle was driven from the restaurant to Monifieth, Mrs Pope was the driver. Mr Pope knew that the police were investigating drink-driving from Barnhill to Monifieth.
“I am satisfied he knew perfectly well that he was not the driver and knew she was.
“Mr Pope set out to deceive the police and he did deceive the police.”
Sentence was deferred to September 11.