Stunned police watched a young drink driver smash into another car in a failed attempt to leave a Forfar car park in the early hours of April Fool’s Day, a court has been told.
The officers had been talking to a member of the public about an unrelated matter when Nathan George started on his way out of the Myre in the town centre.
The 18-year-old was so far over the legal alcohol limit he could not make it around a traffic island and crashed into another vehicle.
He initially gave a breath alcohol reading of almost six times the limit, but was eventually charged with a blood alcohol count of more than four times the permitted level.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, George, of Kintrockat Lodge, Brechin pled guilty to driving carelessly in Myre Road, Forfar on April 1 and colliding with another vehicle, and with an excess blood alcohol count of 209 milligrammes, against a legal limit of 50.
Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said the offence happened at around 1.15 am when the two officers had been stopped by a passer-by in relation to another matter.
“While they were there, two people passed in their vehicle, heading east,” said the fiscal.
“At that point, the accused was leaving the car park and he lost control negotiating a keep left traffic island before colliding with the other vehicle.
“He was removed from his vehicle and officers smelled alcohol on his breath.”
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George blew a roadside count of 125 microgrammes – the legal limit is 22 – but following a discrepancy in readings at the police station he agreed to provide a blood sample which gave the reading to which he pled guilty.
The apprentice joiner, who represented himself in court, told Sheriff Keith O’Mahony: “It was a moment of madness, but it happened and I’m going to accept all the consequences.
“I didn’t intend on going out but I did, I had a falling out with my brother and I did what I did,” said George.
The sheriff told him: “The reading was about four times the limit – a high reading.”
George was fined £600 and banned from driving for 18 months.
