A Black Watch soldier who drove over the wrong side of the Tay Road Bridge at speeds up to 120mph has been banned from the road.
Daniel McLean, 24, was given a two year driving ban and fined £300 at Dundee Sheriff Court.
He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work after admitting driving a car at two-and-a-half times the legal alcohol limit, and dangerous driving, at Tay Road Bridge and A92, on June 21.
McLean, of Kirkbank, Dumfries, had picked up a female passenger, Danielle Swindells, at 4am and was taking her home after a night out.
Fiscal depute John Adams told the court McLean missed the turn off on to the bridge at Dock Street and continued westwards before doing a U turn onto the north carriageway of the bridge.
The fiscal said: “Realising he was on the wrong side of the bridge, he reacted by attempting to cross the bridge as quickly as he could.
“Miss Swindells looked at the speedometer and saw he was travelling at 120mph.”
The court heard that as he approached the end of the bridge, McLean realised he was travelling too fast to negotiate the roundabout and despite attempts to brake he failed to stop in time.
The fiscal continued: “He narrowly missed another vehicle and continued to travel south, over the roundabout, and skidded across the opposite carriageway before mounting a grass verge.
“Miss Swindells struck her head on the dashboard but fortunately did not sustain injury.”
Police were made aware of what had taken place.
When officers attended, McLean was breathalysed, then taken to police headquarters where he gave a reading showed he was over the legal drink-drive limit.
Solicitor Ian Houston, defending, previously told the court McLean was a Lance Corporal for Three Scots, which is the former Black Watch regiment, at the time of the offence, and was likely to be demoted to a Private as a result of the incident.
Sheriff George Way said: “This is a serious matter and as such you will have to undertake unpaid work.”
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