A slurring driver seen weaving around a McDonald’s car park and suspected of being under the influence had £1,500 worth of ketamine in the car.
Reeve Smart appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted to driving erratically at a number of locations across Inverurie at 10mph.
When police removed the 21-year-old from his vehicle they found he was slurring his words and smelling of alcohol.
They also discovered 75 grams of ketamine in his possession.
Accused’s speech was slurred
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told the court that at around 9.40pm on August 10 2021 police officers became aware of Smart’s vehicle when they saw him pull out of a loading bay in Inverurie.
“As they approached the accused left and officers followed his car and saw him strike and damage his nearside tyre,” Mr McMann said.
“Police watched as he veered across the road close to nearside vehicles, which he narrowly avoided colliding with.”
Smart drove into McDonald’s car park where his vehicle was seen weaving across the road and narrowly missing hitting another car.
His vehicle drifted towards two bollards and left the car park but continued to drive at 10mph.
The car then struck a pavement at the car park of the Travelodge and police pulled him over.
The officers noted Smart’s speech was slurred and that he smelled strongly of alcohol.
He then refused to provide a breath sample.
Police found ketamine
As police searched his car they found 75g of ketamine, understood to have a street value of between £1,480 and £1,590.
Smart pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving and a second charge of failing to provide a breath test while being suspected of driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
He also admitted a further charge of being in possession of a controlled drug, ketamine.
Defence agent Leonard Birkenshaw referred to a social work report carried out on his client that was not read out in court.
As an alternative to a prison sentence, Sheriff Shelagh McCall made Smart subject to a community payback order with supervision for 6 months.
She also disqualified Smart, of Ruthrieston Circle, Aberdeen, from driving for 12 months.
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