A man who tried to give his girlfriend a BMW after he found the keys in the street has ended up in court – after she called the police.
Instead of handing in the lost keys, disqualified driver Michael Robinson took off and drove to his girlfriend’s home.
Despite his attempts to present the car as a gift, the 44-year-old’s girlfriend was having none of it and promptly called the police.
When police eventually caught up with Robinson and breathalysed him he was found to be more than five times the drink-drive limit, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Owner woke to find car was gone
Fiscal depute Victoria Kerr said that on March 4 last year the owner of the BMW believed he dropped the keys on Farquhar Road in Aberdeen while returning with groceries.
The owner went to bed and woke up the following morning to find his car was gone.
At some point during the evening, Robinson found the keys and located the car.
Ms Kerr stated that Robinson then took the car to his then-partner’s home and presented it to her as a gift, while claiming he had “acquired” the car.
As Robinson drove off, the woman called police and reported him for being “heavily under the influence” and described the make and model of the car.
“They located the vehicle at the Grampian Bar and found that the car was warm to the touch,” Mr Kerr said.
“Police officers then found the accused within the bar.”
CCTV evidence
As police arrested Robinson, he continued to deny that he had driven the car despite his DNA later being found on the steering wheel.
CCTV also showed a man matching Robinson getting into the BMW and driving away.
When breathalysed Robinson gave a reading of 120 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22mcg.
He was also disqualified from driving at the time.
Appearing on the dock, Robinson pleaded guilty to one charge of being in possession of stolen property and a second charge of driving whilst disqualified.
He also admitted a third charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol and a fourth charge of driving without insurance.
Defence solicitor Iain McGregor told the court that his client had initially offered to buy the car from the owner but now accepted that taking it without his knowledge was “not appropriate in any way whatsoever”.
“Mr Robinson has had various difficulties with alcohol,” he said.
“He is in a different place now and wants to return home to Liverpool when this matter is dealt with.
“He has shown remorse for his actions.”
Sheriff Christopher Marney made Robinson, of Greyhound Farm Road, Liverpool, subject to a community payback order with supervision and ordered him to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work.
The sheriff also banned Robinson from driving for three years.
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.
