Craig Plenderleith bumped into a wall near his home on Pratt Street in Kirkcaldy while almost five times over the limit.
He immediately called police who attended – but officers couldn’t smell any alcohol on his breath and reported he showed no signs of being drunk.
The first offender appeared in the dock at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to admit driving with 106 mics of alcohol in his system, above the limit of 22.
The court heard that Plenderleith called officers at 6.15pm on April 29 to report that he’d bashed his Vauxhall Combo van into a stone wall.
Solicitor Kerr Sneddon said his client would be able to keep his job as a painter and decorator.
“He is extremely worried about appearing in court for the first time,” he said.
Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith described the hearing as “a somewhat unusual case.”
He said: “There is credit that he contacted police and was up front.
“It’s also significant mitigation that it was a very short distance that he drove.
“The concern the court has is the actual reading.”
He told Plenderleith: “It is of course regrettable, that at the age of 49 with no previous convictions, you appear before the court.
“It’s an offence to drive with excess alcohol throughout the UK.
“You would do well to seek counselling and advice.
“At least on the face of it, you are someone who does have a problem with alcohol.”
The sheriff imposed a financial penalty of £706.67 and banned Plenderleith from driving for 16 months.
Man admits Perth sex attacks
A violent stalker has admitted sexually assaulting two women in Perth city centre.
Creepy Barrie Cameron forced himself on his first victim as she walked home after a night out with friends.
Perth Sheriff Court heard the second woman was left terrified after he kissed and fondled her in his flat, despite her repeated pleas for him to stop.
She was forced to flee by pretending to make a private call, leaving behind her supermarket shopping.
Cameron, who has convictions for stalking, theft and racially aggravated behaviour, appeared in the dock and admitted sexually assaulting the two women – both in their 20s – in January and July 2021.
The 45-year-old was remanded in custody and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for the second time in three years.
Drug peddler must pay back £10k
A young Perth drug dealer who peddled his product on mainstream social media channels has been ordered to pay back more than £10,000.
Prosecutors launched confiscation action against 21-year-old Michael Macdermid, who was caught with more than £4,600 worth of cannabis.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that Macdermid told police that most of his friends were also selling “things” online.
He was ordered to engage with the Right Track programme for young offenders when he appeared in court last month and admitted being concerned in the supply of the class B drug on December 1, last year.
Now, Macdermid must also hand over £10,628 and 89p, following a Proceeds of Crime hearing.
The amount was calculated following a thorough examination of the accused’s finances.
Fiscal depute David Currie previously told how McDermid was woken at his Goodlyburn Terrace home by police and told his room was about to be searched.
He said: “The accused stated that he had stuff in his chest of drawers, alongside a sum of cash.”
Officers found more drug paraphernalia behind a padlocked door, including weighing scales, snapbags, money, a laptop and herbal substance in a tub.
Mr Currie said the total amount of cannabis recovered had a street value of £4,630.
“The accused was interviewed and fully accepted he was concerned in the supply of drugs.
“He stated that most of his friends were involved in selling things.”
Asked to explain his operation, Macdermid told police: “It’s straightforward. I smoke what I need, then sell the rest.”
He said, since he stopped work, he had been selling cannabis on social media sites including Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram to 15 to 20 people but said he was not sure how much money he had made.
Drivers clashed before collision
A Dunfermline man who hit a car while making a dodgy overtaking manoeuvre told a court he was trying to get away from the other driver.
Mark D’Amara followed Cameron Meekison’s vehicle too closely immediately before the collision.
The 56-year-old then drove off and did not report the collision to the police.
Fiscal depute Michael Robertson told Kirkcaldy sheriff court that the incident happened in broad daylight.
He said: “At around 1 pm on March 7, last year, Mr Meekison was driving his blue BMW southbound on Overton Road.
“Whilst he was driving, he noticed a gray Nissan X Trail belonging to the accused.”
He said Meekison had stopped in a lay-by with D’Amara alongside and the pair had an argument before the complainer drove off.
He continued: “Mr Meekison and the accused continued driving southbound.
“The accused drove close behind Mr Meekison leaving inadequate stopping distance.
“The accused intentionally overtook Mr Meekison’s vehicle and as he moved back into the lane, the left portion of his vehicle has hit the right portion of Mr Meekison’s vehicle.
“He then accelerated away.”
D’Amara’s defence agent said the pair had a long-running dispute.
He said: “Mr D’Amara used to have a garage business, where anyone who wanted to fix their own vehicle could use the equipment.
“Mr Meekison was one of the most regular customers.
“He was trying to get away from Mr Meekison, but he did so by overtaking him.”
D’Amara, of Dunnock Road, admitted driving carelessly on Kirkcaldy’s Overton Road on March 7 last year.
He also admitted failing to stop after an accident or to report it to the police.
Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith told D’Amara that if he had simply stayed in the layby, he would not have found himself in court.
He handed him eight penalty points and fined him £800.
Superstore raid
A balaclava-clad crook loaded up Christmas goodie bags with hundreds of pounds worth of stock during an after hours raid on a Dundee superstore.
Gary Tardito was caught on CCTV prowling the aisle at The Range at Lochee’s Stack Leisure Retail Park in December last year.
Police dogs were called in to search for the 42-year-old, who was found hiding behind wooden pallets.
Tarido, who was jailed two years ago for a £4,000 raid on the city’s Giddy Goose bar, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court and admitted the break-in on December 1.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.
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