Downing bottle of whisky in car was '˜suicide mission'

John Kane (67) was hauled over the coals in court by Sheriff Craig Caldwell who questioned whether the course of action taken by the alcoholic on the night in question was actually an attempt to kill himself.

He then berated him for getting behind the wheel in that inebriated condition.

The sheriff said Kane could have killed someone else just as easily, stating his “serious folly” led to a lack of control over his own vehicle which could have put other road users and pedestrians at real risk of death or injury.

Appearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday, Kane, 12/3 Breton Court, Finistere Avenue, Falkirk, previously pled guilty to the drink driving offence he committed in Callendar Road, Falkirk on July 22.

He gave a reading of 121 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

The court heard police officers stopped Kane at 8.30pm.

Sheriff Caldwell said: “You were six times over the limit when you were driving your car and why you felt the need to behave as you did that day is utterly beyond my comprehension.

“You decided to take your car when you could have walked to get the alcohol you wanted. Then you sat in the back of your car and consumed a bottle of whisky. It seems to me you were on a suicide mission.

“You took the decision to drive while you were six times over the limit. It’s up to you what you do with your own life, but you put others at risk through your serious folly.”

Sheriff Caldwell disqualified Kane from driving for a period of four years and also placed him on a supervised community payback order for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work in the community within six months.

A forfeiture order for Kane’s car was refused and he was allowed to keep his vehicle, but was warned not to drive it. “You should be nowhere near a car,” said Sheriff Caldwell. “If you drive in the next four years you will go to jail for a very long time.”

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Visit www.asc.me.uk or call (01324) 874969 for more information.