A fish factory worker has been banned from the road for drink driving after crashing his new car while travelling to buy flowers for his wife.
Genadij Sokolov was almost three times the legal limit when he decided to get behind the wheel of his vehicle for the ill-fated trip to the shops.
He ended up losing control of his car on Maconochie Place in Fraserburgh and crashing into a road sign.
When police caught up with the 57-year-old, he gave a positive breath test, recording a reading of 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is just 22.
And Sokolov’s attempted romantic gesture proved a costly one as he appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday to admit the offence.
Depute Fiscal Lucy Simpson told the court Sokolov was attempting to negotiate a junction in the port when he collided with a road sign.
She said: “He approached a junction and turned right. It was at this point he lost control of the vehicle and careered into a speed limit sign.
“A witness who was out walking her dog saw the vehicle hitting the sign and contacted the police.
“Mr Sokolov was then taken to Fraserburgh police station.”
Defence agent Leonard Burkinshaw said the car had only been purchased the day before and that his client had been on his way to purchase a bunch of flowers for his wife when the accident occurred.
He said the married couple had been drinking the night before as part of their wedding anniversary celebrations.
Mr Burkinshaw said: “Mr Sokolov and his wife had been celebrating the night before and he went out to buy his wife some flowers.
“He is in employment and works at local fish factory. He is on minimum wage.”
Sheriff Christine McCrossan banned Sokolov from the roads for 15 months and ordered him to carry out 75 hours of unpaid work.
Sokolov, whose address was given in court papers as Maconochie Place, Fraserburgh pled guilty to driving while over the prescribed limit.
