A “heavily intoxicated” driver was seen staggering out of his car after nearly mowing down a pedestrian on a Perth street.
Christopher Reid has been banned from the road for four years after he was caught speeding his Mercedes Benz through the city’s Tulloch area while under the influence.
The 36-year-old ranted at another motorist after he almost collided with their vehicle at a roundabout.
He later refused to let police breathalyse him, telling officers: “Shut the f*** up.”
The father-of-three, of Fortingall Place, Perth, was sentenced to 200 hours’ unpaid work.
He will also be fitted with an electronic tag as part of a six-month restriction of liberty curfew.
Sheriff Robert Vaughan also placed Reid on supervision for 18 months.
Shouted at other driver
Reid previously admitted driving a Mercedes Benz C200 dangerously along Cooper Drive and Menzies Court, while under the influence, on October 30 2020.
He was already banned from driving when he pled guilty to the offence last month.
Fiscal depute Nicole Lewis told the court: “At around 2pm, witnesses drove towards a mini-roundabout.
“They could see that the road was clear.
“Suddenly, the accused’s vehicle appeared from the left at excessive speed and braked hard.
“The accused put his window down and started shouting at the witnesses.
“But it was not clear what he was saying.
“He appeared to be under the influence.”
Ms Lewis said: “The accused continued driving and mounted a kerb, narrowly avoiding hitting a pedestrian.
“He exited the vehicle and appeared to be staggering.
“Police arrived on the scene and could see that he was heavily intoxicated.”
Reid was taken to Dundee police HQ, where he refused to give officers a breath specimen.
He told them: “Shut the f*** up.”
Time to change his ways
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “Mr Reid knows it is time for him to accept responsibility and change his behaviour.
“It is regrettable that he finds himself before the court.”
He urged the court not to send his client to jail, noting he had suffered a serious injury in 2019.
Sheriff Vaughan told Reid: “I have taken into account the gravity of the offence as well as your record.”
He failed to give his name, address and date of birth to police.
Reid also pled guilty to breaking a bail condition by being with a woman the court had previously ordered him to stay away from.
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