A Highland Perthshire teenager relived a terrifying bus journey when a drunk driver, who was three times the legal limit, swerved on roads for around 20 miles, with children as young as six frightened for their welfare.
The pupil at Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy told The Courier how he was one of 20 children, aged between six and 17, who were on a Mercedes school bus being driven from Killin to Aberfeldy by Kenneth Carey, 56, of Aultbeag Road, Grandtully.
Carey was banned from driving for six years at Perth Sheriff Court.
He admitted that on June 21 last year on Main Street, Killin, and roads within Breadalbane Community Campus in Aberfeldy, he drove a bus with excess alcohol, 105 mics. The legal limit is 35 mics.
Depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston said: “The bus was stopped by police who detected a strong smell of alcohol.”
The pupil claimed Carey drove almost the whole journey on the wrong side of the road, despite most of the older pupils shouting at him not to do so.
“He was really drunk and would only swerve back to the right side of the road at the last minute,” the pupil said.
“It was terrifying. You could see the smaller children didn’t know what was going on.”
Carey who was treated as a missing person earlier this year also pled guilty to separate charges that between January 23 and 24 inclusive, at Birks View, Aberfeldy, he behaved in a threatening manner by standing on top of a bus and repeatedly shouted, uttered threats, banged on bus windows and waved a petrol can around.