A grief-stricken dad who got in his partner’s car and went on a drink-fuelled rampage through Aberdeen has been jailed.
Over the course of more than an hour, learner driver Ryan Henderson sped along busy city streets – forcing oncoming traffic out of his way.
At one point, he had to swerve to miss another car before ploughing into a roadside barrier.
And even after the smash, he drove away from the scene before eventually being stopped by police in Torry.
Henderson then refused to provide officers with two breath tests and a police surgeon had to rule him unfit to drive – stating it was through drink or drugs.
He admitted four offences when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in June and returned to court for sentence yesterday.
His not guilty pleas to three other charges were accepted by the Crown.
The 26-year-old admitted driving dangerously along John Street, Guild Street, Hutcheon Street and Victoria Road by driving his car at excessive speeds, colliding with a barrier, failing to stop at red lights and causing other motorists to take evasive action.
Henderson, of 10 Newton Road, Aberdeen, also admitted driving the grey Audi A4 quattro without insurance and without being accompanied by a qualified driver, as well as failing to provide two specimens of breath.
The offences were committed on June 4.
His agent, solicitor Alex Burn, said his client had “stupidly binged on alcohol” before getting into his partner’s car and driving off at around 10am.
He said that Henderson had been struggling to come to terms with the loss of four of his children in the space of six years and had turned to drink to help him get over the grief.
He said: “That particular day he had taken to alcohol to deal with part of the grieving process.
“His first child to his partner died in 2008 before even having been discharged from hospital. Two further pregnancies both resulted in miscarriage.
“At this time he was grieving following the third miscarriage and in trying to deal with this he took to drink and stupidly took his partner’s car.
“He just went on a binge. He accepts that his actions were terrible. He deeply regrets his actions and accepts that they could have impacted greatly on others.”
Mr Burn urged Sheriff Marysia Lewis to deal with Henderson by placing him on a community payback order.
He said that his client was well thought of in his job and played a big part in caring for his partner and her eight-year-old son.
But Sheriff Lewis said the offences were “extremely serious” and the details of the hour-long incident had been “disturbing”
She said: “Mr Burn has put forward a very eloquent plea on your behalf and I take account of everything that he has said but the offences to which you pled guilty are very serious indeed.
“The narration is very disturbing. I understand Mr Burn has told you what type of sentence you should expect here and he was right.”
Henderson was jailed for eight months, which was reduced from one year to reflect his early plea.
He was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to resit the extended test before he can gain his licence.