Villagers in Perthshire were forced to intervene when a drowsy drink-driver twice fell asleep at the wheel as he attempted to make his way home after a night of heavy drinking.
Construction worker Ryan Farren was nearly four times over the limit when he was found slumped at the wheel of his van in Stanley on the morning of June 8 this year.
Perth Sheriff Court heard the 34-year-old had been boozing into the small hours with a friend and was attempting to drive back to Coupar Angus, some 10 miles away.
Farren, who has since lost his job, was told if it wasn’t for the quick-thinking actions of concerned residents he may have gone to cause harm to himself or others.
Knocked on the window
Prosecutor Stuart Hamilton said a dog walker first spotted Farren in the front seat of a Vauxhall Combo 2000, which was stationary on Linn Road, at about 8.50am.
“He was observed slumped over the steering wheel of the vehicle,” Mr Hamilton said.
“Another witness who was driving past was advised by the first lady of the situation.”
The pair went to the van and tried unsuccessfully to rouse fast-asleep Farren.
“They tried knocking on the window harder,” the fiscal depute said.
“He woke up and began driving down the road, straight onto a verge.”
Police were contacted, as one of the witnesses followed Farren’s van.
“The driving was observed to be erratic,” Mr Hamilton said.
Farren drove into a driveway, before reversing back out and coming to a stop.
“He did not exit the vehicle and it was assumed he had fallen asleep again.”
Grabbed the steering wheel
Police arrived on the scene at about 9.20am.
They saw the van stationary in the street, with its engine running.
“The accused was asleep in the driving seat,” said Mr Hamilton.
“Officers reached in and removed keys from the ignition.”
Farren suddenly woke up and grabbed the steering wheel with both hands before putting his foot on the pedal.
“He stopped after a short time,” said Mr Hamilton.
Police noted a strong smell of alcohol.
Farren, who identified himself as the driver, failed a roadside breath test.
He pled guilty to a charge of driving with a reading of 87 mics per 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 22 mics.
‘Drank to excess’ on Saturday night
Solicitor Angela Clay, defending, said her client had been drinking the night before and into the early hours.
He had slept at a friends house in Stanley but decided to try and drive back home in the morning.
“Mr Farren worked as a digger driver, but has had to leave his job,” she said.
“He is now employed at the chicken factory at Coupar Angus, which he can walk to.
“He tells me that he doesn’t have an underlying problem with alcohol.
“This was simply a Saturday night where he drank to excess and he made wrong decisions the next morning.”
Sheriff Alison McKay told Farren: “You will appreciate that this was a high reading, notwithstanding the fact it was taken the morning after the night before.
“Fortunately you did not drive very far and others intervened before you could cause harm to yourself or someone else.”
Farren, of George Street, Coupar Angus, was fined £500 and disqualified from driving for 14 months.
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