Drink driver was almost six times over legal limit on Bo'ness road

Stephen McSharry (50) was said to be feeling unwell through the amount he had already drunk previously that he decided to consume four more cans of lager to feel better.

When he pulled over to ask motorists for directions he could barely string a sentence together.

Appearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday, McSharry had admitted the drink driving offence he committed on August 3 in Acre Road, Boness.

Heather Galbraith, procurator fiscal depute, said: “The witness was on the A904 travelling behind a Mercedes Sprinter van which was veering and swerving and at a one point almost left the road.

“The van stopped and the the accused walked towards the witness, indicating he was lost. The witness could smell alcohol and McSharry was slurring his words.

“The witness’s wife called the police and when they arrived officers noticed the accused was struggling to communicate – slurring his words and unable to finish his sentences.”

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A reading was taken at Livingston Police Station and showed McSharry to have 123 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: “This is an incredibly high reading. You said you were unwell and had another four cans of lager before you went out – that would suggest a problem.”

McSharry, 7 Locksley Avenue, Cumbernauld was banned from driving for 18 months and placed on a supervised community payback order for the same period. He was also ordered to complete 160 hours unpaid work within two years.

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