A disqualified driver has paid the price for taking his partner’s car to the “end of the road” in a drunken row.
Gary Watson used the vehicle after a lunchtime bust-up in Arbroath.
The 35-year-old thought better of his actions and turned back but police had been called and Watson gave a breath alcohol reading almost five times the legal limit.
Depute fiscal Laura McGillvery told Forfar Sheriff Court the incident happened at 12.30pm on February 20.
“The accused and complainer had an argument, he didn’t have permission to drive her vehicle and took it away without her consent.
“Police were contacted and he was traced standing close to the vehicle at the back of the house.”
He gave a roadside reading of 100 microgrammes – the legal limit is 22 – and investigations at police HQ revealed he was a banned driver and therefore had no insurance.
Watson, of High Street, Arbroath admitted driving while disqualified, without insurance and with excess alcohol in Warddykes Road and was fined £1,000, and placed on a year-long community payback order including 210 hours of unpaid work. He was banned from driving for 21 months.
Sheriff Derek Reekie told him: “You may not have driven over an extended period, but to drive with that level of alcohol at lunchtime in a residential area is extremely dangerous.”
