A Moray drink driver who drove his car onto a football pitch while a match was being played has been banned from the roads for more than two years.
Jamie Arbuthnot, from Elgin, decided to take his vehicle over the grass at the playing fields in Lhanbryde while more than three times the alcohol limit.
Yesterday, the 23-year-old was disqualified from driving after he appeared for sentencing at Elgin Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and drink driving offences.
Charges against the apprentice tradesman say that he drove his car across the pitch at Garmouth Road in the village at about 2.30pm – causing the match to be halted.
The motorist then performed handbrake turns on the grass in close vicinity of spectators who were attending to watch the match on March 18.
Breath tests carried out on the father later proved he was over the alcohol limit when he made the decision to interrupt the sporting event.
Defence solicitor Stephen Carty accepted his client could have been facing a more serious sentence if any injuries had been caused during the stunt.
He said: “His behaviour on this occasion was certainly foolish and immature.
“The charges that are before the court are very serious. I can’t get away from that – his actions were ridiculous and foolhardy.
“The consequences could have been fairly devastating and if that had been the case then there is no doubt that he would be facing a significant period in custody just now.”
Arbuthnot, of Jamieson Place in Elgin, was found to have 69mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath after being tested by the police. The limit is just 20.
Yesterday, Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov banned him from driving for 30 months, ordered him to do 160 hours of unpaid work and placed him under a curfew for 145 days.
The motorist will also have to pass an extended driving test before getting his licence back.
