Fraserburgh drink-driver crashed car just a day after buying it
Peterhead Sheriff Court heard that Daniel Stewart, known as Finnie, had purchased the Vauxhall Astra from his uncle just the day before and made the decision to get behind the wheel while still under the effects of alcohol.
An analysis of his breath would reveal that he was nearly three times over the limit when police arrested him at the scene.
Fiscal depute Claire Stewart said officers were called to the A98 Banff to Fraserburgh road at about 4.30pm on the day of the incident earlier this year – June 6.
Upon arriving, they found Finnie with his car, which was now down an embankment, and he identified himself as the driver. No other vehicles were involved.
Ms Stewart said: 'Constables noted a smell of alcohol, and that the accused was slurring his words.
'He was then required to provide a breath test for which a positive result was provided. He was then conveyed to Fraserburgh.'
He would record a reading of 60 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is just 22.
Finnie's defence solicitor, Sam Milligan, said the fish factory worker accepted he was in the wrong.
Noting Finnie's only previous crime relating to motoring offences was a £75 fine for driving without a seatbelt in 2013, Mr Milligan said: 'Mr Finnie is entirely straightforward with the police officers who attend.
'In fact, it's succinctly put by him in his reply to caution and charge. He says 'obviously I'm stupid, I've done it and there's nothing I can do about it now'.
'The vehicle that he'd been driving he actually purchased for several hundred pounds from his uncle the day before.
'He'd been drinking earlier in the day and thereafter makes a palpable error of judgement in thinking that he had metabolised the alcohol.'
Sentencing Finnie, whose address was given as Heritage Way, Sheriff Alan Sinclair branded it 'fortunate' that Mr Milligan had convinced him to deal with the matter by the imposition of a financial penalty and driving ban.
The sheriff added: 'I hear what's been said on your behalf, I don't accept that it was reasonable for you to consider that you would have metabolised the alcohol in your system by the time you were driving.
'Particularly in light of the fact that your reading was almost three times the limit and it clearly caused you to have an accident.'
Finnie will pay his £680 fine at the rate of £80 per month.
Sheriff Sinclair also made Finnie eligible for the drink-driving rehabilitation scheme, which, should he complete the course, will allow him to reduce his ban by one quarter.
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A Fraserburgh man who ploughed his new car into a ditch while drink-driving has been banned from the roads for 16 months. Peterhead Sheriff Court heard that Daniel Stewart, known as Finnie, had purchased the Vauxhall Astra from his uncle just the day before and made the decision to get behind the wheel while still under the effects of alcohol. An analysis of his breath would reveal that he was nearly three times over the limit when police arrested him at the scene. Fiscal depute Claire Stewart said officers were called to the A98 Banff to Fraserburgh road at about 4.30pm on the day of the incident earlier this year – June 6. Upon arriving, they found Finnie with his car, which was now down an embankment, and he identified himself as the driver. No other vehicles were involved. Ms Stewart said: 'Constables noted a smell of alcohol, and that the accused was slurring his words. 'He was then required to provide a breath test for which a positive result was provided. He was then conveyed to Fraserburgh.' He would record a reading of 60 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is just 22. Finnie's defence solicitor, Sam Milligan, said the fish factory worker accepted he was in the wrong. Noting Finnie's only previous crime relating to motoring offences was a £75 fine for driving without a seatbelt in 2013, Mr Milligan said: 'Mr Finnie is entirely straightforward with the police officers who attend. 'In fact, it's succinctly put by him in his reply to caution and charge. He says 'obviously I'm stupid, I've done it and there's nothing I can do about it now'. 'The vehicle that he'd been driving he actually purchased for several hundred pounds from his uncle the day before. 'He'd been drinking earlier in the day and thereafter makes a palpable error of judgement in thinking that he had metabolised the alcohol.' Sentencing Finnie, whose address was given as Heritage Way, Sheriff Alan Sinclair branded it 'fortunate' that Mr Milligan had convinced him to deal with the matter by the imposition of a financial penalty and driving ban. The sheriff added: 'I hear what's been said on your behalf, I don't accept that it was reasonable for you to consider that you would have metabolised the alcohol in your system by the time you were driving. 'Particularly in light of the fact that your reading was almost three times the limit and it clearly caused you to have an accident.' Finnie will pay his £680 fine at the rate of £80 per month. Sheriff Sinclair also made Finnie eligible for the drink-driving rehabilitation scheme, which, should he complete the course, will allow him to reduce his ban by one quarter.
