A campervan reveller was caught drink driving as he tried to flee from abusive teenagers in a Perthshire town.
Cameron Johnstone parked his motorhome at an Alyth car park before meeting friends for drinks at a nearby hotel.
But when the 21-year-old groundworker left the establishment, he was targeted by a gang of youths who shouted homophobic slurs.
Fearing further trouble, Johnstone decided to move his van away from the town centre.
But as he tried to drive off, he was spotted by local police.
Johnstone was pulled over and breathalysed.
He told police: “I was scared my campervan was going to get attacked.”
Slurred speech
Johnstone, from Kirriemuir, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted driving at nearly twice the legal limit in Alyth’s Commercial Street on October 23.
Fiscal depute Nicole Lewis said police saw the van just before 1am.
“On seeing the police, the accused exited the vehicle.
“He was smelling strongly of alcohol and his speech was slurred.”
Campervan social solution
Solicitor Jamie Baxter said his client lived in a remote area and he had bought the campervan to socialise with friends.
“He was in the habit of taking it out, meeting friends and then spending the night in the van.
“On this occasion, he travelled to Alyth and went to the hotel.
“He left at closing time with the intention of sleeping in the vehicle.
“But en route to the car park, he came across a group of youths.
“They shouted at him and made comments about his sexuality.
“That led to an altercation between him and one of the youths which lasted for a few minutes.”
‘An error of judgement’
Mr Baxter said: “Mr Johnstone went into the van in the car park.
“Given they (the youths) knew where he was going and where his vehicle was, he decided to move it.
“He now accepts that this was not necessary. It was a poor decision.”
Mr Baxter told the court: “He saw the police vehicle and realising he should not be driving, he pulled over and stopped at the side of the road.
“He was fully cooperative with police.”
Sheriff Euan Duthie told Johnstone: “I think you recognise that this was an error of judgement.”
He banned Johnstone from driving for 12 months and fined him £500.
