A drunken farmer was found unconscious in his battered pick-up truck after he smashed into a tree while driving home from the pub.
Hugh Stewart had to be freed by firefighters after the collision near his home in Alyth, east Perthshire.
The 60-year-old, of Haughend Farm, lost control of his orange Ford Ranger after enjoying post-lockdown drinks with old friends.
The 4×4 tore past more than 250ft of hedgerow and bounced off a large tree.
Stewart, a former president of the Alyth Show who has over 300 acres of farmland, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted driving on the B954 while unfit through drink or drugs on August 8 2021.
Hedgerow damage
Fiscal depute Matthew Kerr said: “At about 9.20pm, police received a call about a vehicle that had been involved in a collision.
“The caller said the driver was unconscious and lying across the passenger seat.”
He told the court: “Police attended at the scene and identified the accused as the driver.
“At this time, he was in the driver’s seat being spoken to by ambulance staff.”
The prosecutor said: “There was obvious damage to a nearby hedgerow which measured between 70 and 80 metres.
“Police identified a significant point of impact on the south side of a large tree.
“The accused’s vehicle was found a short distance away.”
Mr Kerr said Stewart was released from his truck by firefighters before being checked over by paramedics.
“They noted a smell of alcohol on the accused,” said Mr Kerr.
“He recorded a positive breath test.”
Driving ban will be difficult
Solicitor Steve Lafferty said his client had entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity.
“He had not seen his friends for many months because of Covid.
“Mr Stewart took his vehicle to meet them at a local pub.
“Quite frankly, he took a bit more drink than he ought to have.”
Mr Lafferty said: “He tried to drive the three miles back to his house and he lost control when an item rolled off his passenger seat.
“His suffered an injury as a result of the collision.”
The court heard that a driving ban will have “very difficult consequences” on Stewart’s farming work.
Sheriff Craig McSherry fined Stewart £700 and disqualified him from driving for a year.
