A Tesla driver has been banned from the road after he was caught drinking wine in his car while it was charging in a Perth car park.
Father-of-three Gary MacAulay appeared at the city’s sheriff court and admitted driving while nearly five times the limit at the Broxden Park and Ride.
The 65-year-old, of Garvocklea Gardens, Laurencekirk, was spotted by a couple at the Tesla Supercharger station at around 7.30pm.
At Perth Sheriff Court, he pled guilty to driving with excess alcohol (102mics/22).
Depute fiscal Andrew Harding said the husband and wife were charging their vehicle in the neighbouring bay.
“She heard the accused bang into their car as he opened his door,” the prosecutor said.
“They spotted a bottle of wine on the passenger seat.
“The accused, they noted, was slurring his words and was smelling strongly of alcohol.”
MacAulay unplugged his vehicle and moved into a vacant space nearby.
The couple called police.
Fined and banned
“When officers arrived the accused was asked who had moved the vehicle away from the charging point,” said Mr Harding.
“He replied: ‘I moved it’.”
MacAulay’s solicitor told the court his client ran his own business as an electrician but had started to suffer health problems.
“He is unable to explain his conduct on this day,” he said.
“Mr MacAulay had been drinking wine in his vehicle while it was charging.
“He then moved it away from the supercharger into another parking space.
“It was an extremely foolish thing to do and he has no intention of ever repeating this.”
Sheriff Francis Gill said: “This was a very high reading and you have been unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for your actions.”
He fined him £600 and banned him from driving for 20 months.
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