A MAN has been disqualified from driving and fined £500 after he was found to be more than four times the drink-drive limit when he crashed his car.

Craig Cassidy, 29, of Tammy Dale’s Road in Kilwinning, pled guilty to one charge at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.

The court heard that on March 12 of this year, Cassidy had been drinking all night with his partner at her home in Kilwinning. Following an argument, Cassidy decided to drive to his mum’s address in Ardrossan. He set off in his car at around 9.10 am.

Cassidy lost control of his vehicle at Chapel Hill Roundabout on the A78 and crashed. Witnesses saw Cassidy get out the driver’s seat of the car. They stopped to offer assistance and noticed that he was intoxicated and smelling heavily of alcohol. Cassidy said he was going to his mum’s house and left in the direction of Ardrossan on foot.

When police attended, they observed Cassidy walking back towards the vehicle with his mum. He admitted the vehicle was his and confirmed that he had been driving at the time. Police carried out a roadside breath test on Cassidy, which he failed. He was arrested and taken to Saltcoats Police Office.

Tests later confirmed that Cassidy had 203 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit in Scotland is 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Defending Cassidy, solicitor Brian Holliman said: “I think it would be fair to say there is an element of naivety and he was frankly surprised by the reading. He has admitted responsibility at the first opportunity.

“He is aware he would be subject to a disqualification. I wonder if his Lordship would consider a drink-driving rehabilitation course. He is a relatively inexperienced driver.”

Sheriff Craig Harris told Cassidy: “I have to take into account the protection of the public and the risk you posed on the day you were drinking. That was a considerable risk [with] the amount if alcohol you had been drinking.”

Cassidy was fined £500, reduced from £750 due to his guilty plea. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and allowed to take part in a drink-drive rehabilitation scheme.