A drunk HGV driver who presented police with a supermarket loyalty card when asked for his driving licence has been banned from the roads for 40 months.
Alexander Donald, 47, from Barrhead, drove a fully-laden 28-tonne lorry on the M90 motorway during rush hour while almost six times over the alcohol limit. He drank a bottle of wine at the wheel and had a second bottle in his cab as he weaved through traffic between Perth and Edinburgh.
The incident only ended when another lorry driver signalled for him to pull over on the hard shoulder, preventing what could have been a catastrophic accident.
Court hears of serious risk
At Perth Sheriff Court, Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC said the case was "a most serious matter" and that Donald had driven while over five times the legal limit. She noted he had bought two bottles of wine on his way to work and consumed one before starting his duties.
"Not only were you unfit to attend work, but you also purchased two bottles of wine on your way to work, and consumed one before commencing your duties as an HGV driver," she said.
"Fortunately, one such road user noted the quality of your driving and got you to stop. There was significant risk to other road users and there was potentially serious consequences of your behaviour."
Despite saying the threshold for a custodial sentence had been met, Sheriff Bain allowed Donald to avoid prison, citing his previous good record, supportive background, and efforts to address his alcohol addiction.
Details of the incident
The court heard police were called shortly after 5.30pm after Donald had pulled his lorry onto the hard shoulder. Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson told the court the lorry was carrying dental cement and was fully loaded.
"Another HGV driver was concerned by the manner of driving and he took it upon himself to signal to the accused to get him to stop driving and pull over into the hard shoulder," she said.
"It was 5.30pm on a Tuesday. The traffic was extremely busy. Police arrived a short time later. The accused was traced within the vehicle. He was slurring his words and had impaired movement."
Donald was asked to provide his driving licence but attempted to give officers a supermarket store card from his wallet. He admitted drinking a bottle of wine and told officers there was a further unopened bottle in the cabin.
Sentencing and consequences
Donald was arrested and taken to Dundee HQ, where he told officers: "To be completely honest, I've had a drink. One of my self-prescribed medications is alcohol. I have previously been in hospital for alcoholism."
The prosecutor said Donald denied doing anything wrong and refused to sign documents handed to him by police.
Defence solicitor Angela McLardy said: "The seriousness of the situation is not lost on him. He is very remorseful and very anxious about his prospects." She said the problem had "crept up on him in the last decade" and that he had lost his employment.
Donald was banned from driving for 40 months, placed on a four-month curfew, ordered to carry out 167 hours of unpaid work, and placed under supervision for two years.
