A man downed ten whisky doubles before driving from Newtonhill to Aberdeen where he abandoned his car in the middle of a busy street.
Samuel Anane, 27, drove his silver Chevrolet Cruze while unfit to do so through drinking far too much booze.
Staff at Quoiters Cafe Bar in Newtonhill told police they served Anane between eight and ten double measures of Jack Daniel’s whisky.
They tried to get him to hand over his car keys when they realised he intended to drive home.
Anane’s car was later found deserted in the middle of an Aberdeen street after he drove ten miles from the Newtonhill bar to the city.
Anane spent almost four hours celebrating a new job he’s now lost
Sheriff Scott Manson told Anane, who was fired from his job as a result of the offence, there was “no excuse” for what he did.
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann said that Anane arrived at Quoiters Cafe Bar, Newtonhill, around 3:15pm on August 30 last month and ordered Jack Daniel’s.
At 7pm, Anane was still at the bar ordering drinks.
Bar staff estimated he had between eight and ten double measures of the American whisky.
When asked how he planned to get home, Anane couldn’t provide an answer to the staff member.
The bar staff stopped serving Anane alcohol due to his intoxicated state and asked him to hand over his car keys, which Anane refused.
Bystanders stopped fleeing motorist for police
Soon after, the police received a report that Anane had got behind the wheel and driven his car away from the pub.
Then another call came in from a resident of Aberdeen reporting that a driver had abandoned his car in the middle of the road.
Members of the public had to stop him fleeing the scene, the caller added.
Police arrived and found Anane to be inebriated.
In the dock, Anane pled guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while unfit to do so through the consumption of drink or drugs.
He also faced a charge of refusing a roadside breath test, however, a not-guilty plea was accepted by the prosecutor.
Defence solicitor Andrew Ormiston told the court that his client had been celebrating getting a new job on the day in question and had decided to have a few drinks.
However, the solicitor added that, upon hearing about this incident, Anane’s employer “dispensed with his services”.
Mr Ormiston explained: “He lost his job as a consequence of his actions and that is a matter of great regret for him.
“Mr Anane recognises that this is all a consequence of his own actions and is extremely sorry for this conduct and is embarrassed by it.”
‘The court disapproves in the highest terms’
Sheriff Manson told Anane: “Whilst it has been said that you accept responsibility in its entirety, it falls upon me to point out that your conduct is something that the court disapproves of in the highest possible terms.
“Drink-drivers create a risk for other members of the public and there can be no excuse for what you did on this occasion.”
Sheriff Manson disqualified Anane, of Colville Place, Aberdeen, for 12 months and fined him a total of £420.
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