Serial drink driver made '˜bad decision'

When police officers caught up with Jamie McSorley (31) in Falkirk it was the third time he had driven while drunk in just over 10 years and his second drink driving offence in a short space of time.

Appearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday, McSorley admitted the drink driving offence he committed in Garrison Place and Melville Street on November 23 last year.

He gave a reading of 88 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

Andy Bryson, defence solicitor, said: “He is a man who makes very bad decisions when it comes to drinking and driving but he is still responsible enough to hold down a steady job.

“This offence, carried out so close to another drink driving offence, has to be considered as being very serious indeed and he does need help in regards to his alcohol consumption.

“This incident happened when he was in a bit of flux, but his life has now moved on since then.”

The crown office put forward an order of forfeiture for McSorley’s vehicle – the car that he was driving when he committed the drink driving offence.

Sheriff Craig Caldwell said: “You have come very close to a significant prison sentence today. This is your third such conviction and also your second drink driving offence committed in a very short time period.

“Your conduct in relation to drink driving is dangerous and very foolish indeed. In this particular matter you were four times over the legal limit.

“Frankly, you should have been nowhere near a car, never mind driving one.”

Sheriff Caldwell disqualified McSorley, 17 Castings Court, Middlefield, from driving for a period of five years and, due to his history of offending, he was also placed on a supervised community payback order for 12 months.

In addition, Sheriff Caldwell ordered McSorley to complete 240 hours of unpaid work in the community within six months and he upheld the crown’s order for forfeiture so McSorley’s car could be taken from him.