An oil worker has had his sports car confiscated after he drunkenly crashed into a garden wall before fleeing the scene.
Richard Henderson was on his way to his girlfriend’s house in Tarland on Sunday when he lost control of his blue BMW sport 3 series and ploughed into a wall on Aberdeen Road.
The offshore worker, who had been drinking all afternoon, panicked and drove away from the house without stopping to report the crash.
Shortly afterwards police officers, who had been called to the scene by the home owners, traced the 26-year-old and found his car extensively damaged.
Henderson was smelling strongly of alcohol, slurring his words and unsteady on his feet.
When ordered to take a breath test it was discovered he was almost three and a half times the legal limit.
Yesterday Henderson appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted drink-driving and leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it.
Fiscal depute Samia Rasheed said: “The offence took place shortly after 8.20pm on August 31. Witnesses around the locus became aware of the noise of a car engine revving followed by a loud bang.
“When they looked outside they saw the car was partially on the pavement and had struck the garden wall. The car was being driven by the accused who drove off at speed. Witnesses also described the vehicle as having no head lights on.”
Mrs Rasheed said when officers managed to trace Henderson they found his car was “extensively damaged”.
Representing Henderson, solicitor Shane Campbell said his client worked in the oil industry and earned about £45,000 a year.
He said he had been drinking throughout the day and “stupidly took it upon himself” to drive from his home to see his girlfriend who lives a mile outside Tarland.
Mr Campbell said Henderson was “clearly in no position to drive” and when he realised the trouble he was in, having just crashed into a wall, he “panicked” and drove off.
The solicitor urged Sheriff Annella Cowan to defer the case for background reports to be carried out “given the high reading”, however she refused.
Sheriff Cowan confiscated his vehicle, estimated to be worth more than £2,000, and fined Henderson, of Lovat House West, 4 Melgum Road, Tarland, an additional £850.
She also banned him from the roads for 18 months