A Paisley man who took Valium and crashed into a lamp post has been banned from driving.
Gavin McClung, 39, experimented with Valium and when the drug took hold of his body, he crashed his white van into a lamppost, leading to cops discovering he was under the influence and unfit to drive.
McClung, of Blythswood Drive, told cops they were all a bunch of “silly sausages” when they cautioned and charged him in July 2020.
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
The fiscal depute told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 2.40am on July 16, 2020, a witness contacted police due to a white Volkswagen van had crashed into a lamp post on Murray Street in Paisley.
“The witness stated a male exited the driver seat and was staggering on the road.
“Police attended and noted the accused appeared to be disorientated and was slurring his speech.
“Around 3am, the accused admitted he was driving the van.
“When cautioned and charged, McClung replied ‘F**k off, you are all silly sausages.”
Defence agent Kevin Brady told the court McClung, who has recently secured employment as a scaffolder, wasn’t having a “good time” in July 2020.
Mr Brady added: “McClung took a roadside test for alcohol which was negative and done a drugs test for cocaine and cannabis which was negative.
“He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth hospital and it was the view of the doctor that he was under the influence of drink or drugs.
“He accepts he was under the influence, he had took Valium and went out in the van, he felt fine, then the Valium hit him and he hit a kerb and the lamp post.
Sentencing, Sheriff Suhkwinder Gill said: “You’re last previous conviction was in 2013, you have no analogous offences, no driving disqualifications, so I’ll deal with this today.”
Sheriff Gill banned McClung from driving for one year but made him subject to the drink-drive rehabilitation course which will reduce his ban by three months.
In addition, McClung was fined £500.
Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport in your area. Available on both Android and Apple. Download here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
