Bo'ness drunk driver: 'I was just being an idiot.'

Gary MacMartin (24), 30 Ewart Grove, Bo’ness, told police he had not planned on driving and had even given his car keys to his girlfriend. However, he later found himself behind the wheel, his car mangled against a wall.

At Falkirk Sheriff Court, MacMartin admitted driving without due care and attention on Bo’mains Road, Bo’ness, on August 1 last year. He also pled guilty to giving a reading of 165 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood when the legal limit was 50 milligrams.

Procurator fiscal depute Gavin Whyte said: “It was 10.30pm and police received a call that a car had driven down Douglas Drive over the speed limit and had hit a tyre against the kerb before hitting a wall.

“The front of the car was damaged, the front window smashed. The accused had injuries to his wrist, while his passenger had injuries to their left arm and left leg.

“The accused said ‘Aye it was me who was driving – I was just being an idiot’.”

Neil Hay, defence solicitor, said: “He had driven to a party, but had put his car keys in his girlfriend’s handbag. He had no intention of driving at all.”

MacMartin was fined £595 and banned for three years.