A drink-driver who drove to a car wash nearly three times the alcohol limit was caught after his dad phoned the police to report him.
Gautam Kumar had been drinking vodka before deciding to take his vehicle to a nearby car wash on Causewayend, Aberdeen.
But his “deeply concerned” father called the police and officers quickly traced the 36-year-old, who was then arrested when he failed a breath test.
He had 60mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mcg.
Kumar, who’s lived with a “chronic alcohol addiction” for years, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted to getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.
‘Chronic alcohol addiction’
Fiscal depute David Rogers told the court: “At 2.40pm on January 29, police were contacted by the father of the accused, who believed the accused was driving while under the influence of alcohol and was going to a car wash on Causewayend.”
Police were dispatched to the car wash, where they found Kumar and stopped him.
After failing the breath test, he was taken into custody and later appeared in court.
Defence agent Shane Campbell said his client had been battling a “chronic alcohol addiction” for a number of years.
“He’s had some success at times but, unfortunately, at other times it’s proved to be extremely challenging for him”, he explained.
Mr Campbell said the problem had been affecting Kumar’s health and he planned to attend a rehab clinic in India.
‘Solace in alcohol’
The solicitor said his client had managed to abstain from alcohol for a year before the pandemic started.
But he sought “solace in alcohol” due to the financial pressures brought about during the pandemic, he added.
On the day of the offence, Kumar had been drinking vodka before deciding to drive around a quarter of a mile to the car wash.
Mr Campbell said: “His father is the one who notifies the police because he is deeply concerned for what may happen”.
Sheriff Ian Wallace fined Kumar £640 and banned him from driving for 14 months.
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