A drink-driver who smashed into the garden of a rural cottage, leaving its occupants fearing their roof was falling in, has been fined £3,300 and banned for 15 months.
Steven Young was hit with the maximum financial penalty available when he was finally sentenced for the crash but avoided a jail sentence or community order, which would have put a near £50,000 offshore career at risk.
In April the 25-year-old, of High Street, Monifieth, appeared from custody in Forfar just a few hours after he lost control of his Mazda 2 near Kingennie in Angus, crashing through a garden and hitting other parked cars before his vehicle came to rest on its side.
The crash sent a fencepost spearing through the bedroom window of sleeping householders Ian and Donna Anderson, who feared their home was collapsing when they were woken by the 3am commotion.
Young had admitted driving with an alcohol reading of 91 microgrammes (the limit is 22) when he appeared in a dishevelled state in the Forfar dock the same morning, but sentencing had been delayed for the preparation of reports and due to his offshore work.
Solicitor Lynne Sturrock said he was a first offender with income potential of up to £4,000 a month and urged the court to impose a financial penalty, since any other disposal would result in the opportunity of a work trip to China being lost. “It is extremely fortunate that no one was hurt he accepts that and appreciates that if a financial penalty is imposed it will hit him hard in the pocket,” Ms Sturrock said.
Sheriff Murray said a tagging order would be inappropriate because of Young’s employment and although imprisonment was technically an option it was also not a realistic sentence.
“That leaves me with a fine,” said the sheriff, who told Young the maximum penalty for the offence was £5,000.
“I propose to fine you £5,000, discounted to £3,300 because you pled guilty at the earliest opportunity.” Young must pay the fine within three months.
The driving ban was backdated to April 9, when Young was disqualified ad interim during his custody appearance.
In the aftermath of the accident, stunned residents of the cottages spoke of the scene of devastation. Mrs Anderson said the couple’s bedroom sheets were showered with flying glass and other debris, including Young’s number plate.
Neighbour Graeme Bletcher told how Young’s car had narrowly missed an oil storage tank before coming to a crashing halt.