A man spotted “weaving across the road” before assaulting a good Samaritan when they tried to take away his keys has been disqualified for three years.
Edgars Deveiko’s driving caught the attention of members of the public at Kittybrewster Retail Park in Aberdeen earlier this year.
Concerned witnesses called police when the 47-year-old Deveiko sped into the car park at around 7pm, revving the engine before exiting the vehicle and staggering into a shop.
Fiscal depute Jamie Dunbar told Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday that witnesses then followed Deveiko when he drove off, and noticed him “weaving across the road” and “negotiating a junction while on the wrong side of the road”.
They followed Deveiko to Lidl on King Street, and saw him drive into a hedge, Mr Dunbar said.
The court heard that when another man approached Deveiko to take his car keys to prevent him driving away, he lashed out.
The fiscal said: “When they approached Deveiko he immediately became aggressive towards them and kicked the witness on his right arm.
“The extent of the injury is described as a small scratch.”
He added when police arrived they “formed the impression the accused was under the influence of alcohol” as there was a “strong smell of alcohol”, he was “unsteady” on his feet and had slurred speech.
Deveiko, whose address was given in court papers as Gordon Place, Inverurie, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, assault, failing to identify the driver of the car to police and failing to supply a breath sample.
Solicitor Tony Burgess said the offences happened the day before his client’s birthday and that he had been struggling with debt.
He said: “He consumed alcohol and then made the terrible mistake of deciding to drive.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin fined Deveiko £900 on top of his road ban. He was also ordered to pay the man he kicked £300 in compensation.
