A Fife man has been banned from the road and faces losing his job and home after he told police he could not give a breath specimen because of “a phobia of white tubes.”
Adam McQueen was stopped by officers in St Andrews after they formed the impression he was drink-driving. However, they were left speechless when he refused a breath test, citing a mortal fear of the tube mechanism.
At Cupar Sheriff Court on Thursday the 29-year-old admitted failing to co-operate with a breath test after being stopped at Abbotsford Crescent in St Andrews by officers who suspected he had been driving while under the influence of alcohol.
The court heard the offence took place in the early hours of Saturday, March 26.
McQueen, of Ladeddie Farm, Pitscottie, is set to lose his job as a travelling salesman as a result of the offence. He will also be forced to leave his Fife home and seek new accommodation in the central belt.
Depute fiscal Laura McLaughlin described how McQueen was seen driving his van in St Andrews at around 2.20am. Officers observed him preparing to pull out of a junction, she said. When he spotted the police, he began to reverse in.
He was promptly pulled over and, according to the depute fiscal, “smelt strongly of alcohol.”
“The accused was also slurring his words,” she added.
McQueen refused to give a breath specimen when required to do so, saying he had the flu and “a very bad chest infection.”
He was taken to Glenrothes police station, where the accused said he “may be able to give a specimen after having a glass of water,” Ms McLaughlin continued.
“He was provided with a small amount of water but began to swirl it around his mouth. The accused was told to stop what he was doing and … when cautioned and charged, replied, ‘I have a phobia of white tubes’.”
Solicitor Douglas Williams insisted his client was indeed suffering from the flu at the time but gave no explanation as to the apparent fear of plastic tubes. When asked by Sheriff Ferguson “what on earth he thought he was doing” out and about in the early hours if he was so ill, Mr Williams said that was “not clear.”
The defence agent said what was certain is that the offence will have a devastating impact on McQueen.
“He currently works for a family business in the milk and dairy products market. The registered office is in Glasgow but Mr McQueen works on commission doing travelling sales,” he said. “He undertakes around 30,000 miles per annum in connection with this employment so obviously this case is likely to have a big impact on him.”
Mr Williams said the “only solution” for McQueen in light of his inevitable driving ban would be leave his home on a Fife farm and move to Glasgow, from where he can catch a bus to his company’s HQ.
“This would allow him to carry out office duties. However, it is all very much up in the air. Mr McQueen is perfectly well aware of the extreme consequences of his actions.”
Sheriff Ferguson banned McQueen for 20 months and fined him £750.
“You hindered the police inquiry so it is not possible to ascertain how far over the limit you were. That is a very serious matter something which must be reflected in the punishment.”