An Angus drink-driver who broke his ankle after a Brechin crash a few days before Christmas has been given unpaid work after his lawyer said he would be fit for that but “perhaps not the Olympic 100 metres”.
Nathan Forsyth was pulled from his wrecked Vauxhall Corsa by concerned members of the public who feared it would burst into flames after he smacked a parked car in Brechin’s Montrose Street.
The 27-year-old was taken straight to hospital with a broken ankle, but refused to provide a breath specimen following the December 22 incident.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told Forfar Sheriff Court witnesses saw Forsyth pull sharply out in front of another car after emerging from a junction just before 10pm.
He had no lights on and was travelling at speed. The Corsa was seen to veer across the road and collide with a building before spinning round and coming to rest facing the direction it had come from.
Local residents went out to investigate the loud bang and the owner of a Nissan Qashqai noticed the car was damaged.
“Forsyth was still in the car and fearing it may be on fire they went to his aid, pulling him onto the road away from the car,” said Ms Drummond.
Passing off-duty paramedics assisted and the witnesses noticed Forsyth smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred.
He told paramedics he had not taken any substances, but admitted he had had a drink.
Forsyth, of Andover Hill, Brechin, admitted driving dangerously in Montrose Street, Brechin on December 22 after consuming alcohol.
Defence solicitor Brian Bell said his client had previously appeared twice in court on crutches as a result of the broken ankle he suffered in the crash.
Sentence had been deferred to allow the accused more time for recovery after a sheriff noted he had a previous drink-drive conviction.
“The court felt that a fine would not properly reflect the seriousness of this case. Whilst he is not fully recovered, he now gets physio,” said Mr Bell.
“He perhaps won’t enter the Olympic 100 metres but is fit enough for unpaid work.”
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown said: “You have accepted responsibility for your actions, and that you acted in a stupid manner.
“You’ve also paid the price for that in terms of your injuries, from which you are still recovering.”
Forsyth was banned from driving for 12 months and must carry out 160 hours of unpaid work under a community payback order, imposed as an alternative to custody.
