A suspected drink-driver found stuck in a ditch repeatedly sucked the police breathalyser instead of blowing into it.
Rugby player Christopher Adam was seen driving “erratically” through Inverurie with a flat tyre before ending up in the ditch.
After initially failing a roadside breath test, the 40-year-old did not comply with the formal procedure at the station.
Instead of blowing into the machine, Adam sucked – five separate times – despite it being repeatedly explained how to properly provide a sample.
‘Strong smell of alcohol’
Fiscal depute Sean Ambrose told Aberdeen Sheriff Court witnesses were driving through Inverurie town centre at around 8.10pm on November 12 when they spotted Adam.
He pulled out in front of them at the junction of Station Road and Oldmeldrum Road and one of his front tyres “appeared to be flat due to a puncture”.
Adam was then seen driving “erratically” and going through a red light.
The witnesses contacted the police and advised them they suspected Adam was intoxicated.
While travelling along the B9001, Adam again crossed onto the wrong side of the road and then onto a grass verge where he became stuck in a ditch and was found by police.
‘Ashamed’
Mr Ambrose said: “The accused had to exit the vehicle via the passenger door with the assistance of the police due to the fact the driver’s door couldn’t be opened due to it being in a ditch.”
Officers noted a “strong smell of alcohol” and Adam failed a roadside breath test.
He was then taken back to the police station where he was required to provide two further breath samples as part of the formal process.
Mr Ambrose said: “The accused provided one specimen of breath, however, failed to provide a second, despite being given five opportunities.
“On each occasion, he sucked in air despite being instructed as to the correct procedure on numerous occasions.”
Adam, of Lethenty Courtyard, Hillhead of Lethenty, pled guilty to failing to provide two breath samples and to failing to give police information as to the identity of the driver.
Defence agent Ian Woodward-Nutt said the father-of-five had had a “problematic relationship with alcohol in recent years”.
Offences happened ‘through his own stupidity’
He said the network engineer had been playing rugby earlier that day and started drinking afterwards.
Adam had contacted a friend to ask for a lift home, but his phone ran out of battery before receiving a response.
Mr Woodward-Nutt said: “That arrangement, it seems, fell by the wayside.
“Significantly intoxicated, he unfortunately elected to drive and that’s how he came to the attention of the authorities.”
The solicitor said his client was “ashamed” of the matter but accepted it came about “through his own stupidity”.
Sheriff Ian Wallace banned Adam from driving for 16 months and fined him £1,040.
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