Prison for drink-driver who took partner’s wheel after she became unwell

A banned driver took to the wheel of his partner’s car after she complained she was feeling unwell.

Mario Bertonesi, 22, previously admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance on May 22.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that he was caught driving a Vauxhall Astra on the A9, near Auchterarder, and police checks revealed it was registered to a female owner.

Depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston said that, during questioning, officers discovered the driver was disqualified. Bertonesi had been on a trip to the area with his partner from his home in St George’s Road.

Solicitor John Adams, defending, said he had “naively” offered to drive when his partner became unwell. He said Bertonesi accepted that he and his partner should have stopped the car and called for assistance.

Sheriff Fiona Tait said it was in the public interest for her to hand Bertonesi a custodial sentence. She jailed him for five months and handed him a four-year driving ban.