Mercy dash drink-driver crashed into A90 central reservation

A drink-driver who smashed his car into the central reservation of the A90 near Forfar has been fined and banned.

Retail merchandiser Alexander Getty had been staying in an Aberdeen hotel on February 19 when he took a frantic phone call from his distressed mum in Glasgow to say that his father had suffered a fall.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard Getty was discovered at about 3am by two Bear Scotland workers after they saw his car in the gravel of the central reserve near Finavon.

They called police after seeing Getty was unsteady and slurring his words and the accused was found to be almost three times over the limit.

Getty, 50, of Dunchattan Street in Glasgow, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol (60mics).

Defence solicitor Nick Whelan said his client had advised his mum to phone an ambulance but then, in “an error of judgment”, had got in his car to make the 140-mile trip to Glasgow.

“The vehicle suffered a puncture and he collided with the barrier. He remained there waiting for assistance,” said Mr Whelan, adding that the accused had lost his job as a result of the offence.

Sheriff Pino Di Emidio fined Getty £400 and disqualified him for 15 months.