Disqualified speeding drink driver jailed

Mar 11 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A DISQUALIFIED driver who was caught speeding and also found to be over the drink-drive limit has been jailed.

Police officers stopped Sean Taylor after they recorded the vehicle he was travelling in on Houston Road, Livingston, doing 53mph in a 30 zone.

The 26-year-old admitted to officers when they questioned him that he was a disqualified driver.

“They also noticed he smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred,” procurator fiscal depute Claire Martin told Livingston Sheriff Court.

Taylor was taken to Livingston Police Station where he provided a positive breath test with a reading of 48 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath – over the legal limit of 35mg per 100ml.

Taylor was banned from the roads for a year in April 2009 when he pleaded guilty to driving while being unfit to drive through drink or drugs after he crashed his van into a parked car in Broxburn.

Last week Taylor, whose address was given as Craigseaton, Broxburn, pleaded guilty to drink driving, driving while disqualified and with no insurance, and to speeding. He also admitted breaching a community service order he was given for damaging a door and causing a breach of the peace at an address in Broxburn.

His solicitor, Charlie Morrison, told the court his client appreciated he was in an extremely difficult position in relation to his breach of a community service order and a breach of a court order by driving.

Mr Morrison added: “His position is that he was at a friend’s house. Another friend had recently passed away and they were discussing that and thinks he drank two bottles of Stella and then drove his sister’s car.

“He should not have been driving in any event regardless of whether he was under the influence of alcohol or not and he regrets his actions.

“I appreciate he does not have a good record for driving offences. He was placed on community service in January 2009 and he has only done 15 hours out of 150.”

His solicitor told the court there had been a delay in starting the community service order because Taylor suffered from a “host of illnesses”.

“He has never had probation and it may be of benefit to him. If he serves a custodial sentence, and he accepts that may be at the forefront of my lord’s mind, then he will lose his employment and would be unable to support his family,” Mr Morrison added.

“He accepts he is in the last chance saloon.”

However, Sheriff Donald Muirhead said he had no option but to jail Taylor. Sentencing him to two months imprisonment Sheriff Muirhead added: “You have been on a community service order which I placed you on at the beginning of last year. I would have no doubt have told you then that you had to comply with the order or you would be back in front of me and that is what happened.

“Then in the process of being brought to book on that issue you were caught driving a car at 53 miles per hour in a 30 limit, while disqualified, without insurance and substantially over the drink drive limit while on bail. In all these circumstances and in light of your record I am afraid that, on the driving while disqualified offence at least, no other disposal other than custody is appropriate.”

Taylor was also banned from the roads for three years and had his community service order replaced with a £500 fine.