A tanked-up Paisley man who dangerously drove his motor at “excessive speed” before crashing into a bollard, a wall and a parked car after drinking in a casino has narrowly avoided jail.
Anthony McDermott had spent the night boozing at the casino in Glasgow when he decided to get behind the wheel of his Audi A5 and attempt to drive home.
McDermott was in control of the motor – with no front driver-side wheel – causing the vehicle’s axel to be exposed on October 10 on roads in Glasgow and Paisley.
McDermott, of Iona Drive, admitted at Paisley Sheriff Court that he drove his car dangerously by “repeatedly” travelling at excessive speed and colliding with a bollard, causing it damage.
The 40-year-old drove the wrong way down a one-way street and crashed with a stationary car and then collided with a wall.
McDermott – who also admitted he was “unfit to drive through drink or drugs” – blasted his car through Glasgow’s Springfield Quay and Paisley Road West as well as Paisley’s Darvel Crescent.
Danger driver McDermot also admitted failing to stop and provide his name, address and vehicle details to the owner of the stationary vehicle he crashed into.
When cops arrested the thug, he caused “fear or alarm” while en route to Helen Street police station by shouting, swearing, uttering threats of violence, uttering offensive comments and behaving in an aggressive manner.
The procurator fiscal depute told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Towards PC Irvine, the accused stated, ‘Put a muzzle on that f*****g d**e’.
“Towards PC Henry, he stated, ‘I’ll stick the nut in you, you baldy pr**k, I’ll kick you in the balls’. The accused was taken to Helen Street police station.”
McDermott, without reasonable excuse, failed to provide two specimens of breath for analysis by officers to ascertain his ability to drive, or the proportion of alcohol in his breath at the time of his dangerous driving.
The prosecutor added: “He was cautioned and charged and stated he didn’t understand the charge. He then said to police he had been drinking since 4pm the previous day. He was charged for the other road traffic offences and made no reply.”
Defence agent Sam Anderson told the court McDermott wanted to apologise to his victims – particularly the police officers – for the “unsavoury remarks” he made.
She added: “October 10 is what Mr McDermott describes as a mental health crisis. He hadn’t been taking his medication and turned to alcohol and that’s why he was in the casino.
“Matters quite literally snowballed when he decided to get behind the wheel of his car. It is nothing but good fortune no other people were injured. He is fully aware of the danger he caused to the public and fully aware of the dangers he displayed.
“He is remorseful and mortified he behaved in this way. This has been a wake-up call for him and he has no desire to get back behind the wheel of a vehicle.”
Sheriff Simon Fraser stated: “As observed, you have passed the custody threshold but there are alternatives available.”
McDermott was made subject to supervision of the social work department for two years and ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Sheriff Fraser stated: “This has not been discounted. The discount is to be found in that I am not sending you to custody. If you breach this order, you will go to jail.”
In addition, McDermott was banned from driving for two years, reduced from three to reflect his early plea.
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