A drunk lorry driver crashed into a car in Dunfermline when he was more than six times the limit.
Colin Kirk, 56, was driving an articulated lorry with a trailer attached when he hit the back of a Vauxhall Corsa stopped at traffic lights.
At an earlier hearing in Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Kirk admitted driving carelessly and with excess alcohol (138mics/22) westbound in Baldridgeburn and colliding with a car.
The court heard previously he had driven more than 100 miles from Aberdeen before the incident.
Defence lawyer Pauline McKenzie said he is due to take a forklift licence test with a view to securing employment in Aberdeen.
Sheriff Charles Macnair told Kirk it was “extremely fortunate” the collision was not more serious.
He banned Kirk from driving for 16 months and told him to carry out 125 hours of unpaid work, as part of a community payback order.
Kirk was also fined £265 by the sheriff.
Care home tragedy
A 90-year-old man died after drinking from a bottle of unlabelled cleaning fluid left on a shelf above his sink in his Monifieth care home room. David Fyfe swigged from a cup of Covid-specific Steri Germ cleaner in his room at Tigh-Na-Muirn at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. The owners of the home Peter and Carol Philip, have admitted health and safety breaches.
Boozy lunch leads to job loss
James Gauld, 49, from Methven, is likely to lose his job after driving along the A90 following a boozy meeting with a client when he already had a drink-driving conviction.
At Perth Sheriff Court, he admitted driving westward near Glencarse while three and a half times over the limit (77 mics/22) on April 3.
Fiscal depute Bill Kermode said Gauld’s speed was fluctuating between 50 and 80mph and he was unsteady within his lane.
Police traced him at Methven Arms Hotel, where court papers list him as living and he failed the roadside breath test.
His solicitor Linda Clark said: “Mr Gauld gives an explanation that he had been meeting a client for a business-related meeting.
“They had taken some alcohol but remained in each other’s company.”
She added: “They moved elsewhere and the alcohol had continued to be consumed.”
“Foolishly, Mr Gauld made the decision to drive the vehicle back to the address in Methven.
“It is likely his employment will be terminated.”
Sheriff Wyllie Robertson ordered Gauld to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and banned him for two years.
He said: “You should be aware that this is imposed as an alternative to custody.”
Park pest
An Angus drunk who shouted “you’ve got a nice arse” at a paramedic who had been treating him after he fell in a park is on the Sex Offenders Register. After making the lewd comment, William Whyte, 49, proceeded to urinate in broad daylight in front of children and pensioners in Montrose.
Grabbed taxi driver by throat
A Glenrothes man grabbed an off-duty Fife taxi driver by the throat after he was refused a lift.
Alisdair Muldoon attacked Shuja Chaudhry as he was cleaning his vehicle at a taxi rank in Leslie on December 3 last year.
The assault was witnessed by other taxi drivers, who called the police.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, 24-year-old Muldoon admitted a charge of assault but claimed he did not remember the incident.
Fiscal depute Amy Robertson told the court the incident took place at 4am in a taxi rank on North Street, Leslie.
She said Mr Chaudhry had his doors open as he was cleaning his vehicle.
Muldoon repeatedly asked to go to Thornton but was refused due to being intoxicated.
She said: “The accused disregarded this and entered the vehicle, sitting in the passenger seat.
“Mr Chaudhry requested he leave multiple times but the accused became aggressive, got out of the vehicle and grabbed Mr Chaudhry by the throat.
“This was witnessed by multiple taxi drivers, who called the police.”
Solicitor Peter Robertson, defending, said: “Alcohol was in use and Mr Muldoon has no recollection of the offence.
“He’s remorseful and has shown insight into his behaviour”.
Muldoon, of Ayton Court, pled guilty to assault and was placed on a 12-month supervision order.
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