A businessman has been banned from the roads after smashing his Range Rover into a parked car – causing his motor to become airborne and land on its side.
Neil Stewart had been drinking with a friend in a pub in Bridge of Weir when he decided he would get in his car to drive home.
Stewart, who turned 54 today, had spent a Friday night with a pal as they mourned the loss of a young friend.
But rather than take the “two-minute” walk home, Stewart, of Prieston Road in Bridge of Weir, got behind the wheel of his Range Rover and smashed into a parked car in the village’s Main Street – causing his vehicle to flip onto its side.
Fiscal depute Tracy Wright told Paisley Sheriff Court that, fortunately, no one was injured in the incident caused by the dad-of-four on October 7.
Ms Wright added: “The accused exited the Amaretto restaurant around 10.30pm.
“A witness observed the crash and contacted the police.
“In the police station, he provided one specimen of breath, but when asked to do the second, he became hostile and he sucked rather than blow on the machine.
“Due to his level of intoxication, he wasn’t cautioned and charged at the time.”
Ms Wright told the court that the first and only reading provided by Stewart was 108mg per 100ml of breath.
The legal limit is 22mg.
Sheriff Eoin McGinty said he was inclined to call for background reports, stating: “Given the fact there was a refusal and that there’s a suggestion the reading may have been over 100mg, I may need to call for reports here.”
But Stewart’s defence agent convinced Sheriff McGinty to deal with the matter, stating this was “very out of character”.
He explained: “Mr Stewart has been driving since he was 19 years old and has a very good driving record.
“He had been invited to have a drink with a friend in an Italian restaurant and he parked his vehicle there when another friend contacted them to come to another pub that was a short distance to walk to, which they did.
“This incident happened when he was going home.
“He drank with this friend as there had been a recent bereavement of a young friend and the whole evening was very upsetting.
“He left the pub and he doesn’t know why he got into his vehicle.
“He is appalled by his conduct and regrets it.
“This was very out of character, he was very upset and very distracted after meeting with his friend and this caused him to behave in a very strange manner.
“His home is only a two-minute walk away and he feels a great sense of shame and embarrassment.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Eoin McGinty said: “I know you think of yourself as quite unfortunate to be here today but there are people who are in prison for a number of years who have done exactly what you have done, but you are fortunate that it was a car that you hit and not a person.
“I do take into consideration that it was a relatively short distance, which in some occasions makes the decision more stupid.
“The first specimen of breath you provided was almost five times the limit and that was evident in your manner of driving and in your behaviour to police officers refusing to provide a second sample.
“Your driving was so compromised that you struck a parked vehicle, causing your car to become airborne before landing on its side.”
Stewart was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within the community. In addition, he was banned from driving for 16 months and fined £640 which was ordered to be paid within 28 days.
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