A banned driver got drunk and took his workmate’s van for a joyride, before crashing it into a Perthshire family’s garden.
Liam Thornber was more than three times the limit when he caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to property in Crieff’s Kincardine Road.
The 20-year-old, who was disqualified last year following a high speed police chase, was found guilty after a trial at Perth Sheriff Court.
He was convicted of taking a Citroen Berlingo without consent on November 8, last year.
Thornber was further found guilty to driving it while disqualified, over the limit and without insurance.
Sheriff Euan Duthie deferred sentence until next month for background reports.
Thornber, of Glebe Road, Comrie, was banned from the road in the meantime.
Slipped out for a smoke
The trial heard Thornber was with a friend and colleague at a house in Sauchie Road, Crieff.
His workmate had responsibility for the works van, which was parked outside that day.
Thornber told his pal he was stepping outside for a cigarette but never came back.
He drove the works van onto Kincardine Street, where he lost control and careered off the road into a private front garden.
Thornber was breathalysed and recorded a reading of 70 mics of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 22 mics.
Police ran a check on him and found that he had been disqualified.
Sheriff Duthie told Thornber he wanted background reports to check if he was a suitable candidate for the Right Track rehabilitation programme.
Sentence was deferred until October 17.
Drove ‘like an idiot’
The court previously heard Thornber was a provisional licence holder when he led police on a high-speed chase that was deemed so dangerous, force management told officers to stop pursing for their own safety.
He almost crashed several times as he drove through Perthshire in an Audi A3.
Thornber told the court he had acted “like an idiot”.
He was banned from driving for a year and fined £700.
