A Dundee man ploughed his car into a Tayport takeaway, narrowly avoiding a woman waiting for food.
Joshua Smith, 32, smashed his Mitsibushi Shogun into the window of New Shanghai, on the town’s Cross Street.
Emma Milne, a customer, told police she heard screeching before fleeing from the front to the rear of the shop to avoid being hit by Smith’s out-of-control car.
The Chinese restaurant has been closed since September 25, the night of the accident.
Customer dodged car
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Smith, of St Ann Lane, refused to give a blood sample to police after the incident, claiming it “breached his human rights”.
Fiscal depute Emma Farmer told the court: “At around 8.30pm witnesses were in the takeaway.
“Witness Milne was standing in the shop doorway when she heard loud screeching.
“The accused’s car hurtled toward the shop window.
“She ran to the back of the shop for her safety.
“The accused’s vehicle crashed into the shop window.
“It came to a halt, just before it hit the counter.
“The accused attempted to reverse out of the shop.”
Refused to provide sample
Ms Farmer continued: “One of the witnesses removed the keys from the car.
“They could smell alcohol on the accused’s breath.
“Services were called.
“The accused was taken to the police station.
“He was asked to provide a blood sample.
“He refused to do so and said it was against his human rights.”
Smith admitted driving dangerously, causing his vehicle to collide with a building and causing Emma Milne to take evasive action.
He pled guilty to being unfit to drive through drink or drugs and failing to provide a blood specimen for testing on September 25 this year.
Defence solicitor Ross Donnelly, in mitigation for Smith, said his client now accepts he had difficulties with drink and drugs and the incident had been a “severe wake-up call”.
Smith will return to court on November 17 for sentencing.
