A drink-driver repeatedly insisted his car had been stolen – despite having been seen getting out of the crashed vehicle and having the keys in his pocket.
Residents on Springhill Road in Aberdeen heard a loud bang and observed Alistair Smith staggering around the crashed car.
The clearly intoxicated 42-year-old then tried to convince witnesses that his car had been stolen.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told Smith even tried to sell the same story to police officers who found the keys to the supposedly stolen car in his pocket.
Fiscal depute Kirsty Martin said the incident happened just before 9pm on January 28 2022.
‘He knows perfectly well he shouldn’t have driven’
Upon hearing a bang, residents on Springhill Road looked outside and saw Smith’s car with damage to it and its hazard lights on.
They then heard loud “revving” and saw Smith in the driver’s seat before getting out, walking around the vehicle and getting back in.
Witnesses also heard Smith stating his car “had been stolen”, and noticed he was “staggering and slurring his words”.
Police were contacted.
‘It’s a thoroughly depressing situation’
When officers arrived they also formed the opinion he was under the influence and noted the smell of alcohol on his breath.
He was taken to Kittybrewster station where the car keys were found on him and he failed a breath test.
In reply to caution and charge, Smith stated: “I didn’t take the car. The keys were stolen from my house.”
Smith, of Bonnyview Drive, Aberdeen, pled guilty to driving with 70 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.
Defence agent Iain Hingston described his client’s situation at the time of the defence as “frankly very depressing”.
‘He’s genuinely embarrassed and contrite to be here’
He said Smith had had some alcohol issues, but added: “A few years ago, he managed to get that fully under control and he was very proud of himself for doing so.
“He knows perfectly well he shouldn’t have driven in the state he was in.
“It has had a huge toll on him. He’s genuinely embarrassed and contrite to be here.”
Sheriff Ian Anderson fined Smith £450 and disqualified him from driving for a year.
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