A drink-driver who left a “trail of destruction” in Forres was warned he “could have killed somebody” as he was banned from the roads yesterday.
Bryce Reid mounted pavements and crashed into residents’ fences after drinking to excess on Christmas Day.
He then crashed into a wall on Fleurs Road, and had to climb out the window to get out.
The 36-year-old suffered a fractured wrist and a head wound, and was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
But yesterday, Sheriff Chris Dickson said the consequences of his behaviour could have been much worse, and disqualified him for two years. He was also fined £360.
The court heard that an Anderson Crescent resident was awoken at 11.45pm on Christmas Day by an engine revving outside his home.
Fiscal Alison Wylie said: “The accused’s vehicle was then seen to mount a pavement on the street, and collide with a fence before coming to a complete stop in someone’s garden.
“The car reversed and then drove off at speed along the pavement, hugging the fences on the offside of the vehicle.
“He left a trail of destruction along the road.”
Reid’s vehicle careered into another fence on Anderson Drive, before slamming into a wall on Fleurs Road.
Reid, who is temporarily staying at Forres’s Royal Hotel, admitted to driving dangerously and at excess speed, mounting a footpath and damaging a fence after colliding with it, and failing to give his name and address to police officers.
Reid also pleaded guilty to being unfit to drive through drink or drugs.
Defence agent Iain Jane conceded that Reid “should have made better choices”.
He added: “But, thankfully, the only person he did damage to was himself.”
The accused also admitted a charge of driving without due care, after banging into the back of a Mercedes Benz on the A96 road between Elgin and Forres on Sunday, July 10.
