A sheriff has told a Birnam drink-driver he will serve every day of his driving ban in a bid to protect the public.
Police found Scott Perry (46) sitting next to his overturned car after losing control of it on August 23 last year. He had jumped behind the wheel despite being twice the legal limit.
Appearing at Perth Sheriff Court on Tuesday, the self-employed joiner and handyman asked to be allowed to undertake a drink-driver rehabilitation course. He said a driving ban would impact upon his work and hoped to undertake the course in a bid to secure a discount on the time he would have to spend off the road.
Disqualifying him for 18 months, however, Sheriff Michael Fletcher told Perry: ”I am concerned about your problems with alcohol. For the safety of the public I believe that the 18-month disqualification should stand.”
When approached by officers he smelled strongly of alcohol and gave positive breath tests at the roadside and in hospital.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson told the court: ”Tayside Police received a call to say that there had been a crash. Officers attended and found a Toyota vehicle on its roof. It was completely blocking the road.
”Mr Perry was found nearby, and when approached he accepted that he had been the driver of the vehicle.”
The court was told an ambulance had taken Perry to hospital where it was found he had suffered no significant injuries.
Perry’s agent said his client had suffered from problems with alcohol in the past, but had been ”largely dry” for the past 10 years.
”Shortly before this accident there had unfortunately been an event that caused something of a relapse,” he said. ”He had been drinking earlier in the day and had then unwisely decided to make a local journey. His judgment had been clouded by alcohol.”
The solicitor added that his client had lost control after coming across a large vehicle in the middle of the road.
”Mr Perry did not suffer any significant injury, which is perhaps fortunate given that his vehicle ended up on its roof,” he added.
”He is seeking assistance from the Tayside Council on Alcohol to reinforce his abstinence and he has not drunk since this incident. He realises the stupidity of what he did and very much regrets what happened.”
Perry, of Gladstone Terrace, Birnam, admitted driving with excess alcohol (163mgs) on the A984 Spittalfield to Dunkeld road on August 23. The limit is 80mgs.
In addition to banning Perry from the road, Sheriff Fletcher also ordered him to pay a £500 fine.