Disqualified: Edward Gallacher has been banned from driving for 18 months Pic: © CSNA/Helen Peck
A drunk-driver who was caught after taking a wrong turn and ending up in the car park of a police station has been disqualified and fined.
Jobless builder Edward Gallagher, 52, was making his way back home from a night out with friends when he got lost. Startled police officers noticed him sitting at the wheel of his Vauxhall Corsa with the engine running on the private access road to the staff parking lot at Central Scotland Police headquarters in Stirling.
Suspecting he might be drunk, they went to ask him what the matter was. At Stirling Sheriff Court Sue Ruta, prosecuting, said officers asked Gallagher to take a breath test, as he "reeked" of booze, and he was found to be more than twice the legal limit.
The depute fiscal said: "Police officers had cause to suspect that the accused within the car on the access road to Central Scotland Police's headquarters was under the influence of alcohol. When they went to the accused's car there was a strong smell of alcohol and the man was slurring his words.
"A breath specimen was taken from the man, and he was found to be more than twice the legal limit. He was detained by police and made no reply to being cautioned and charged."
Gallagher, of Bulloch Crescent, Denny, Stirlingshire, pleaded guilty to driving at Central Scotland Police’s Headquarters in Stirling just after midnight on August 7th this year after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion on his breath was 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Ken Dalling, defending, said Gallagher's decision to drive home instead of get the bus as planned "clearly shows the problems of drinking and driving". The defence lawyer said: "This is a 52-year-old man, who resides with his wife. He worked in the building industry for 28 years, and the business he worked for went into receivership two years ago.
"He attempted to set up his own business but that didn't work out. His wife is in employment, but he is receiving benefits and has no assets. On the day in question he was socialising with friends, and drove in to meet them.
"He had planned to get the bus home after the night out but instead decided to try and drive home after drinking. He tried to head home, and ended up taking a wrong turn and ended up in the police headquarters.
Sheriff Peter Paterson disqualified Gallagher for 18 months and fined him £150.
