A Dundee teacher “came to” in his overturned car almost four times over the limit after downing a case of beer on a boozy camping trip.
Baldragon Academy pupil support for learning teacher Andrew Blaney had to be rescued from the stricken vehicle when police arrived at the scene in rural Angus.
The 52-year-old spent the night waiting for treatment at Ninewells after cutting his camping trip short last autumn.
He said empty cans in the car were because he was taking his rubbish home with him.
Blaney, of Balmullo Square in Dundee, told Forfar Sheriff Court: “Camping at the end of October, I’m still questioning why I made that decision.”
He was disqualified for 16 months after admitting driving while unfit to do so.
Overturned
Fiscal depute Jill Drummond said police were called at around 9.30pm on October 29 and made aware of an accident between Alyth and Backwater Reservoir.
Officers attended the B954 just before 10pm and found Blaney’s vehicle overturned.
Ms Drummond said: “The accused was requested to sit in the rear of a marked police vehicle.
“Whilst under caution, he stated he was the driver and was thereafter asked if he had been drinking.
“He stated he had had a case of beer.”
Empty lager cans were found within Blaney’s car.
20 minutes after police arrived, Blaney failed a roadside breath test.
He was checked by paramedics and taken to Ninewells, where it was found he had no injuries.
However, due to it being a busy Saturday night, he was not released until almost dawn.
This meant by the time he was taken to Dundee police HQ, his breathalyser reading was 16 mics – below the legal limit of 22.
However, Ms Drummond explained by measuring backwards, Blaney would have had a reading of around 82 mics when police attended.
‘No recollection’
Father-of-one Blaney appeared in the dock without the aid of a lawyer.
The first offender said: “The case of beer was a case of 10 tins I had consumed since lunchtime as I was camping.
“I always take my rubbish away. It’s certainly nothing like I was drinking the tins when I’m driving.
“I have no recollection of the accident – I came to upside down in the vehicle, dazed and confused.
“I can only assume I made the decision to pack up and come back.”
Blaney told the court he had recently changed medication prior to the crash.
“I would like to make it clear, at that time in my life… I was making poor choices.
“Camping at the end of October, I’m still questioning why I made that decision.”
Blaney told the court he had been driving since he was 17 and has been a teacher for 13 years after a decade in retail management.
He said he had returned to work this month after a year and a half off.
“I haven’t driven since,” he said.
Fined and banned
Sheriff Krista Johnston fined Blaney £400 plus a £20 victim surcharged and banned him from driving.
She said: “I take into account your age, your lack of record and your personal circumstances.
“This was, by inference, a high reading that you had.
“You’d consumed alcohol. There’s no particular mitigation.
“Obviously your driving was such that you went off the road.”
A council spokesperson said: “It is not appropriate for Dundee City Council to comment on individual personnel matters.”
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