Falkirk motorist was six times over the drink drive limit when he crashed into another car

A former Royal Navy serviceman and would-be train driver was so drunk when crashed his car he told police he had “no recollection” of driving it.
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Christopher Clark (31), who had spent six-and-a-half years in the Royal Navy, had returned from a night out in Glasgow and was more than several beverages worse for wear when he alighted from the train and decided to drive his car, which he would normally come back and pick up when he had sobered up.

Unfortunately, just a few minutes down the road, Clark smashed into a car at a junction and then drove away without giving his details.

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Another motorist followed him and then reported the matter to police.

Clark appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court yesterday to receive his sentenceClark appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court yesterday to receive his sentence
Clark appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court yesterday to receive his sentence

When officers caught up with him he told them he had no recollection of who was driving his car. When he was breath tested – some time after the incident – he gave a reading that was still six times over the legal limit.

Clark appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court yesterday, having pled guilty to driving without due care, failing to stop after and accident and drink driving on Slamannan Road, on August 1. He gave a reading of 132 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

Procurator fiscal depute Eilidh Smith said: “The witness was in his motor vehicle at the junction of Glen Brae and Slamannan Road. He was aware of the motor vehicle driven by the accused and noted it approaching the junction.

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“He tried to reposition his car having expected some kind of impact and the accused’s car struck the witness’s car to the front offside. The accused then stopped briefly before making off at speed.

“Another witness saw the incident and followed the accused in his vehicle. He saw him park up in a car park and then contacted police. Officers arrived and spoke to the accused, who provided his details.

“He told police he had no recollection of who was driving the vehicle.”

The court heard first offender Clark, a former Royal Navy able seaman first class who served in the Middle East, worked as a railway engineer but had aspirations of becoming a train driver.

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As for the night in question, it was stated Clark left his car parked at Falkirk High Station and took the train to Glasgow to socialise. He had quite a lot to drink in the city and when he returned to Falkirk he took the rash decision – he could not explain why – to drive his car.

The offence was described as being “out of character” for Clark, who has two young children from two relationships, and he said he “deeply regretted” what he had done.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: “This is an astonishingly high reading. If you can’t even remember who was driving your car then you obviously cannot control your vehicle.”

Clark, 61, 3 Kerse Lane, Falkirk, was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £1060 to be paid back at a rate of £100 per month.