A banned driver whose car dramatically flipped and crashed into a hedge after overtaking a bus in Fife has been jailed.
David Stewart was left injured after the botched, dangerous manoeuvre in a Mitsubishi Lancer at around 7.20am on the A917 in Fife.
Police and emergency services raced to the scene and open bottles of whisky were found in the car.
Stewart, of Kennoway, walked away from the smash to a nearby golf course and repeatedly denied being the driver.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said: “It’s lucky that nobody was killed as a result of your driving.”
He was remanded in custody last month after admitting to dangerous driving between Drumeldrie and Colinsburgh on May 30.
Rolled car ‘several times’
Dundee Sheriff Court heard how the car driven by Stewart, who has multiple previous convictions, suffered “extensive damage” to the front offside.
“Police looked around the vehicle to ensure it was safe and no other persons were within,” fiscal depute Lissie Cook said.
“They saw two open bottles of whisky in the vehicle as well as leaves and debris from the hedge that the car had hit and smashed the driver’s window.
“It was established that the vehicle had attempted to overtake the 95 bus running between St Andrews and Leven.
“The car had then lost control, hitting grass verges and colliding with a tree.”
Witnesses said the car rolled over “multiple times” before coming to a stop in an upright position on the road.
Stewart got out and walked off and the court heard he was “hostile” and “animated” to police officers who noted he appeared to be under the influence.
The 37-year-old suffered a seatbelt-related injury and refused to provide samples for alcohol and drug testing.
He complied with a breath test some time later, which was within the limit.
Stewart told officers after being charged: “I wasn’t driving. I am taking nothing to do with it.”
Jailed
Defence solicitor Iain McCafferty said Stewart was running two businesses and had made “considerable” efforts to curb his offending.
The lawyer said: “He has not relished the period in custody and his fear of going back to custody may be a protective feature to stop him offending in future.”
Sheriff Carmichael said prison was the only appropriate sentence for Stewart who was ordered to serve eight months in custody.
He was also disqualified from driving for 14 months and must sit the extended test in order to regain his licence.
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