Cops stop drunken butcher for dicey driving in Falkirk

Tomasz Ressel (44) was driving slowly, repeatedly applying his brakes, and reeking of alcohol when police caught up with him on the A9 at Westfield near Falkirk Stadium. His blue grey Subaru Forester had been spotted holding up a line of cars just before 10pm.

Appearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court yesterday, Ressel, Braemar Drive, Falkirk, had pled guilty to the drink driving offence he committed on March 30. He gave a reading of 62 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

Eilidh Smith, procurator fiscal depute, said: “Officers on mobile patrol saw a car three cars ahead of them braking repeatedly and heavily, travelling at around 20 mph, and causing the vehicles behind to brake sharply too, to avoid a collision.”Ressel was signalled to stop and the officers could “immediately smell a strong smell of alcohol” coming from him.He told officers: “This is my stupid idea, driving after alcohol.”Defence solicitor Neil Hay said: “His current employment is as a butcher and delivery driver. He's told his employer. He does not know if he will have a job shortly. The best scenario is he'll be working less, the worst scenario is he'll be signing on.”Sheriff Derek Livingston disqualified Ressel from driving for 12 months and fined him £370, stating: “You were nearly three times the drink-drive limit and you were dangerous.”