A motorists who was caught ”slumped” with ”glazed” eyes at a car steering wheel has been banned from driving for three years.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how Ronald Findlay (55), of Argyle Street, Dundee, had been treated for feeling suicidal, prior to him drinking a bottle of wine and taking paracetamol pills on the day in question.
He was found to be more than twice the legal limit for driving.
On Tuesday, he admitted that on February 25 in Glack Road, Dunkeld, he drove a car with excess alcohol (188 mg). The limit is 80.
Depute fiscal Chris McIntosh told the court Findlay had been seen ”slumped” in his wife’s car, which was parked outside a house in Dunkeld.
”A member of the public had approached the accused to see what was going on,” he said. ”The accused was clearly under the influence of something and the police were contacted.”
Officers arrived 15 minutes later and saw Findlay driving the car. He was stopped and the police could smell alcohol and noticed that the accused’s eyes were ”glazed” and his speech slurred.
”The accused had taken some medication,” Mr McIntosh added.
Solicitor Lynne MacVicar, defending, said her client had drunk a bottle of wine and taken some paracetamol before he was found by police in his estranged wife’s car.
”My client was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary and then transferred to Murray Royal Hospital, Perth, where he was kept for three weeks because he had suicidal thoughts.
”He has been visiting Alcoholics’ Anonymous in Broughty Ferry and understands he will receive a significant driving ban.”
In sentencing Findlay, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him: ”You have a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2001, which was also a high reading. You clearly have a problem with alcohol and then getting behind the wheel of a car.”
Findlay was also fined £600.