Sin Bin: Scots accountant drank ten pints before head-on taxi smash

Paisley Sheriff Court
Paisley Sheriff Court

A Scottish accountant has narrowly avoided jail after admitting that he consumed ten pints of beer before getting behind the wheel of his car and ploughing into a taxi as he drove home from a country club party.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how it was “sheer luck” that no one suffered any serious injury due to the actions of Kevan Walker.

Walker, from Ayr, had driven up from Wolverhampton for the night out on May 13 last year. He took a taxi to the plush Parklands Country Club in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, fully intending not to drive.



However, at the end of the night, he and his brother ended up back in his car which then collided with a taxi on his way home.

The court was told the taxi driver travelling east in Crookfur Road, Newton Mearns, was suddenly aware of the accused’s car coming straight at him on the wrong side of the road.

He was unable to avoid the subsequent collision which severely damaged both vehicles.

When police attended at 11.15pm, Walker approached and told them he had been driving after drinking.

When breathalised he gave a reading of 121 microgrammes and was arrested.

The legal limit is 22.

Walker admitted driving dangerously and causing the collision while being five-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit.

Defence agent Terry Gallanagh said that his client, a first offender, was “horrified and embarrassed” by what he had done.

He said: “He is a man of previous good character and having consumed ten pints that night, has no recollection of how he got back to his vehicle, or driving.

“It must be stressed that he does not behave in this way in normal circumstances. He has a very responsible job. There is no explanation.

“The fact that no one was injured is down to sheer luck. This could have resulted in far more serious consequences - and that could have been his or someone else’s death.”

Sentencing him, sheriff Pettigrew said: “The report here states that you consumed ten pints of beer and that from half past ten that night you have no recollection at all.

“You don’t recall getting into the car and you don’t remember driving. You were a danger to yourself and your brother and anyone else who happened to be on the road.

“You drove into the path of the taxi and everyone involved is very fortunate to have escaped injury.”

Walker was fined £4500 and disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to re-sit and pass the extended test of competency before being allowed to get back behind the wheel.

Sheriff Pettigrew added: “If you default in any way, you will go to jail.”

Share icon
Share this article: