Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 2:46pm

DRUNK GRITTER TOOK CAR AFTER LOSING TAXI PLACE

by John Martin Fulton

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A DRUNK Irvine road gritter got into his car after losing his place in a taxi queue when a fight broke out.

David Allen, of Dick Crescent, had parked up his vehicle before going to the pub on January 4.

His lawyer Brian Holliman told Kilmarnock Sheriff Court: "On leaving the pub he had gone for a taxi.

"He then waited in the taxi queue for an hour. Then a fight broke out and he lost his place in the queue."

At this point the 50-year-old made the less-than-sensible decision to go to his car and drive home.

"His car was close by and he took the foolish decision to take it," added Mr Holliman.

"He had only gone a short way before he was stopped.

When police stopped him for a routine check they spoke to him, smelling alcohol on his breath.

On being taken to Kilmarnock police station he was found to be almost three times the drink drive limit.

Mr Holliman told the court that Allen, a HGV driver for Amey who has recently been involved in gritting thre roads through the cold spell, would still expect to keep his job despite any ban.

Sheriff Seith Ireland told Allen that his main priority was "public protection".

"This was a very high reading indeed. In my view, so you are aware of the seriousness of the matter you will be disqualified for 30 months."

Allen was also fined £500 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last Thursday after pleading guilty to drink driving.