A teenage motorist wrote off his mother’s car after driving it while almost five times the legal drink-drive limit.
Owen Galbraith careered along a Kirkcaldy street near Beveridge Park before losing control.
The town’s sheriff court heard the 19-year-old had been drinking heavily that weekend and had not appreciated how long alcohol remains in the body.
Fiscal depute Jill Currie told the court Galbraith had almost collided with another motorist, before hitting a parked Volkswagen Transporter.
She said: “At 7.20pm two witnesses were driving their cars past Beveridge Park and observed the accused driving a white Mini Clubman from the direction of the roundabout.
“The accused car swerved on to the opposite side of the road and headed towards witness Todd’s car.
“The accused lost control and swerved into the right lane where he collided with the parked car.”
‘Kicking himself’
Ms Currie said the witnesses asked Galbraith is he was ok, to which he replied “aye” but they said he appeared intoxicated and police were called.
The Mini had its bumper ripped off and a wheel bent at 90 degrees, while the Transporter was also damaged.
Solicitor David Cranston, defending, said Galbraith worked as a joiner for his father so would not lose his job if he lost his licence.
He said: “It’s a depressing situation for a 19-year-old.
“He’d had his licence for a few months.
“He’s kicking himself. He had got complacent about how much he had been drinking.
“He had been drinking all Saturday until 4am and had another drink Sunday.
“He got a call from a friend who needed a lift and without thinking that he would still be drunk he got in the car.
“He was surprised by how long alcohol stays in the system.
“He doesn’t drink all the time.
“He’s a pretty responsible man who had drunk too much that weekend and is paying the price.”
Banned and fined
He said Galbraith’s mother’s car had been written off.
Galbraith, of Lady Nairn Avenue, Kirkcaldy, admitted driving with excess alcohol (103mics/22).
He further admitted driving dangerously on Abbotshall Road on June 5 this year.
Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane banned him from the road for 18 months and fined him £1,000.
