A drink-driving golf caddy was caught by police after suffering a breakdown on the A90.
Mark Robb was travelling to a tournament in Forfar when the timer belt of his Ford Fiesta snapped, forcing him to pull over near Longforgan.
When police came to his aid, they noticed a strong smell of booze.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how the 33-year-old, from Dundee, had been at a wedding the day before but had stopped drinking 12 hours earlier.
He was more than double the drink-drive limit when breathalysed at the roadside.
The morning after
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said: “At about 11.55am, police officers on mobile patrol observed the accused’s Ford Fiesta, stationary in lane one.
“They approached the vehicle to speak with the accused. The officers noted a smell of alcohol.”
Robb was arrested after failing a roadside breath test.
His solicitor told the court: “Mr Robb had attended at a wedding in Errol the previous day.
“He had been drinking during the event but went to bed before midnight.”
The court heard that Robb was due to be caddying at a tournament in Angus on the day he was arrested.
“He was travelling to Dundee and then on to Forfar,” the lawyer said.
“He simply did not realise he was over the limit. He thought he was fit to drive.
“What happened was that his timing belt snapped while he was on the A90 and he had to pull into the side of the carriageway.
“Mr Robb complied fully with police, so much so that he was out in time to attend his tournament.
“He had been second in the ranking and was hoping to be first.”
The solicitor added: “He wasn’t intending to drink or drive, he just misjudged the situation.”
He said that losing his licence could impact his client’s work as a caddy.
Although he is mainly based at St Andrews, he does travel to other courses.
Robb pled guilty to driving on the A90 on September 18 2022, with excess alcohol (52 mics/ 22).
Sheriff Mark O’Hanlon told Robb: “You thought you were under the limit, but clearly you were not.”
Robb, of Strathmartine Road, Dundee, was banned from driving for 70 weeks and fined £450.
For the latest court cases across Tayside and Fife, join our Courts Facebook page.
