Things go from bad to worse for car-azy driver

Dec 31 2009 Paisley Daily Express

A MOTORIST has landed himself with a drink-drive hangover following a disastrous episode behind the wheel.

James Lobban crashed his car into a ditch and managed to convince a local farmer to come to his assistance on December 9, Paisley Sheriff Court was told.

But 48-year-old Lobban repaid the Good Samaritan by colliding with the vehicle being used to tow him back onto the road.

For he accelerated so furiously as he tried to reverse while being pulled out of his predicament that he crashed into the farmer’s car, causing extensive damage.

And Lobban got himself even deeper into difficulty when he tried to drive off and landed straight back in the ditch.

This time, he revved the engine so frantically as he attempted to get back onto the roadway that it exploded and caught fire.

Police were alerted and, when they arrived and breath-tested Lobban, he was found to be almost four times over the legal drink-drive limit.

When airport worker Lobban, of Spencer Drive, Paisley, appeared shamefaced in the dock yesterday, he admitted driving carelessly in Gleniffer Road, Neilston, with 137 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath, exceeding the permitted level of 35.

Depute fiscal Chris Kane said the initial incident happened just before 5pm on the day in question.

Defence agent John Gardner revealed that, following an argument earlier that day, the accused had driven off in his partner’s car to buy a bottle of alcohol.

After the crash, Lobban alerted a farmer to his plight. While the farmer was helping to retrieve the vehicle, a collision took place.

Police were called a short time later after Lobban had driven forward and crashed into the ditch again.

While attempting to get out, he accelerated so strenuously that the engine exploded.

To add insult to injury, when attempts were made to retrieve the vehicle the following day, it had disappeared.

Mr Gardner said that Lobban would now have to stump up the cash for the damage done to the car from his own pocket.

Sheriff Paul Crozier fined the accused £850, payable at £100 per month, and banned him from driving for three years.