A young driver crashed his car while almost three-times the legal drink drive limit after a night drinking with friends.
Declan Forbes, 22, was drunk behind the wheel when he crashed his Ford Fiesta causing “extensive damage” and two flat tyres in the early hours of June 11, 2022.
Forbes, who works as a postman, had been drinking with a friend the night before and decided to drive his car home shortly before 7am.
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Cops were alerted to Forbes after his car was spotted standing next to his wrecked motor causing an obstruction on the roadway.
Prosecutor Karen Yuill told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 6.55am a member of the public contacted police stating there had been a single vehicle collision and the vehicle was causing an obstruction and that a male was on the roadway.
“Around 7.10am, police attended at Glasgow Road, Barrhead and observed extensive damage to the front of the vehicle and there was two flat tyres on the driver’s side.
“The accused was standing next to the car at this time and he identified himself as the owner and driver.”
Court heard Forbes failed a roadside breath test and was subsequently arrested and taken to the police station.
Ms Yuill added: “At Helen Street station, Forbes provided two specimens of breath which were positive for alcohol.
“He was cautioned and charged and released on an undertaking.”
Forbes admitted to driving while the proportion of alcohol in his breath was 62mg in 100ml of breath.
The legal limit is 22mg.
Terry Gallanagh, defence solicitor told the court this was a case of “next day” drink driving.
Mr Gallanagh explained: “Mr Forbes had been at a friend’s the night before where they had been drinking.
“His friend woke him up in the morning and told him to go home as he was going to work.
“Forbes thought that after having a sleep he would be fine – he obviously wasn’t.
“He accepts and regrets his behaviour.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Lindsay Kooner said: “You’re a young man, you have no previous endorsements on your licence and it is clear you obviously misjudged matters quite significantly.”
Sheriff Kooner banned Forbes from driving for 12 months but made him eligible for the drink drive rehabilitation course which if successfully completed will reduce the driving ban by three months.
In addition, Forbes, of Corker Hill Road in Glasgow, was fined £320 and ordered to pay this at £50 per month.
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