A court has heard how an Angus drug-driver hit a car just four hours after police let him go following a zero alcohol reading in a roadside breath test.
Declan Baker had been tracked down before 8am after a tip-off about a possible drink-driver in Arbroath.
But he was let go after blowing a nil alcohol count, only to be caught in a “staggering state” fewer than four hours later after hitting another vehicle in the town.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, Baker, 27, of Service Road, Forfar admitted two charges relating to offences on August 11.
He pled guilty to driving a vehicle on Culloden Crescent, Arbroath while unfit to drive through drink or drugs, and on the same date in Culloden Crescent, Burnside Drive and elsewhere, driving carelessly and colliding with a parked car.
Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan told the court Police Scotland officers had been called to Culloden Crescent at 7.55am on August 11 following a report of a possible drink driving incident.
They found the accused in the vehicle but he gave a zero reading. Officers noticed signs of damage on the vehicle at that time, the fiscal said.
They left the scene, but at around 11.40am the same officers received a report a vehicle matching the accused’s had struck another in Culloden Crescent.
Baker was traced to Burnside Drive and officers pulled him over.
Mr Duncan said they noticed fresh collision marks on his car and medication packets inside the vehicle.
“He had slurred speech, his pupils were dilated and he was staggering from side to side,” the fiscal added.
Baker admitted driving the vehicle at the time of the collision and told police: “I have personal use, it’s Valium and it’s self-medicated.”
He was taken to a police station and charged.
Defence agent Billy Rennie said his client had recently been discharged from Carseview, where he had been for two months.
Sheriff Gregor Murray fined Baker £300 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.
