Supermarket drinkdriver was five times over the legal limit

Stunned shoppers dialled 999 as they watched car swerve round parked cars on busy city street

A Perth man who endangered the lives of his neighbours as he made a drunken dash to the shops has been jailed.

John Boyce had four previous convictions for drink-driving but got behind the wheel once again despite being almost five times the legal limit.

Shoppers at the Co-op store on Argyll Road spotted the 56-year-old as he stumbled around the supermarket on May 3, smelling strongly of alcohol.

He then staggered to his car, before reversing haphazardly from his parking space, and members of the public dialled 999 as he drove away.

Depute fiscal Claire Kennedy told the city’s sheriff court: “Witnesses saw him leave the shop and then begin driving along Argyll Road in a dangerous manner.

“He was not making use of his gears and as the witnesses looked on he was seen swerving around parked cars in an exaggerated arc.”

When police arrived at his home, a short distance away in Stronsay Court, Boyce claimed he had not left the house all day, despite the fact he was holding his car keys and the car’s engine was still warm.

He was “unable” to give a breath test in his living room but was recorded at 109 mics a short time later at police headquarters. The legal limit is 22 mics.

Boyce subsequently admitted driving with excess alcohol.

The court was told the accused had racked up his previous convictions within a matter of a few months in 2006.

Solicitor Billy Somerville attempted to persuade the court to impose an alternative to custody, saying his client feared he would “struggle” behind bars due to ill health.

He said Boyce would be able to carry out unpaid work – albeit at a reduced rate due to his issues – but that possibility was dismissed by Sheriff Lindsay Foulis.

The sheriff told Boyce: “This is your fifth conviction for drink-driving.

“It was a high reading, it was late morning on a Wednesday, near to a supermarket, and these are busy roads. Bute Drive, for one, is a main thoroughfare.

“Clearly custody is appropriate.” He sentenced Boyce to five months behind bars and disqualified him from driving for seven years.

His Skoda Fabia estate car was seized by the Crown.

This is your fifth conviction for drinkdriving. Clearly custody is appropriate. SHERRIFF LINDSAY FOULIS