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Dutch lorry driver given two-year ban for drink-driving

Forfar Sheriff Court.
Forfar Sheriff Court.

A Dutch lorry driver was fined £1,000 and banned from UK roads for two years after a dangerous drink-driving episode on one of Tayside’s main trunk roads.

Cornelius Koevets, 53, of Hoven admitted his part in an incident between Tealing and St Anne’s at Brechin, in which “it was a miracle no one was injured or even killed.”

At Forfar Sheriff Court, Koevets admitted being in control of a lorry while he was over the legal alcohol limit on Tuesday, and gave a sample measuring over 110 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath, where the limit is 35.

He also admitted a charge that he repeatedly weaved violently across both carriageways, repeatedly collided with verges and kerbs on both sides of the road, and repeatedly straddled the white centre line, causing others to take evasive action, and caused extensive tailbacks.

The Crown dropped a string of tachograph charges against him.

Fiscal depute Hannah Kennedy said “numerous 999 calls were made” around 3.50pm as “a lorry of Dutch make” was seen by motorists to weave across both lanes, and it was “a miracle” no one was killed.

An officer from Police Scotland’s Tayside Division road policing unit pulled Koevets over near St Anne’s. Ms Kennedy said the officer could see two bottles of Dutch brandy within Koevets’ reach in the cab one empty.

Defence agent Bob Bruce said his client would lose his job if he could not drive in the UK, but was aware of the severity of the offences and there was “no cogent reason” offered for his behaviour.

“He’s had a tremendous shock from today’s activities and he’ll never act this way in the country again,” he added.

Sheriff Kevin Veal said: “The fact that he was driving an articulated lorry in this state in the middle of the afternoon gives the libel an added gravity.”

It is understood Koevets’ cab and trailer were left overnight at Stracathro services outside Brechin, and the trailer will be moved to a depot in Dundee.

Sheriff Veal imposed two fines of £500 and disqualified Koevets from driving in the UK for two years.

An initial plea of not guilty was tendered by a previous defence agent, Mike Short, and the Crown opposed bail, claiming Koevets was a flight risk.

Koevets was granted bail, subject to depositing a 2,000 euros sum with the sheriff clerk, before the case was recalled later in the day and his plea changed.