Drunk learner driver smashed into parked car and ran away

Steven Squire was found guilty at Dunfermline Sheriff CourtSteven Squire was found guilty at Dunfermline Sheriff Court
Steven Squire was found guilty at Dunfermline Sheriff Court
A drunk learner driver crashed into a parked car in the early hours of the morning then ran off.

The car being driven by Steven Squire was written-off and the stationary vehicle was also damaged.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Squire, from Kirkcaldy, had been drinking in Dunfermline before causing the collision in Cairneyhill. When tracked down by police he claimed someone else had been driving.

Squire (21) of Arran Crescent, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on May 13 at Main Street, Cairneyhill, he failed to identify who had been driving a vehicle involved in a collision.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He also admitted drink-driving. His reading was 48 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the limit is 22 microgrammes.

He further admitted he drove without ‘L’ plates or being accompanied by a qualified driver and he had no insurance.

Depute fiscal Katherine Fraser said Squire had been in Coady’s Bar in Dunfermline and had offered a lift to a female.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They went for a drive and then at 5.30am he was taking her home when he crashed into a parked car in Cairneyhill.

A resident heard a loud bang and looked outside into the street where she saw a car sitting next to her neighbour’s vehicle.

Squire was in the driver’s seat and made several unsuccessful attempts to pull away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When this did not work, he got out of the vehicle and ran off.

His female passenger followed him but he asked her to go back to retrieve his mobile phone.

He asked her to phone a taxi and then he threw the car keys away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Police were contacted and when they arrived saw the damaged vehicles.

Squire was found nearby and matched the description passed on by the local resident.

There was a strong smell of alcohol from him and he claimed he was not the driver.

“He’s up there. It’s no me,” he told police.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His roadside breath test was positive and Squire was arrested.

Defence solicitor David McLaughlin said the vehicle belonged to the partner of Squire’s mum and was written-off following the collision.

“He had been speaking to someone and had drank a couple of beers. When driving he clipped this car,” added the solicitor.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court heard Squire, who only has a provisional licence, has just completed a community payback order.

Sheriff Charles MacNair told Squire, “This was appalling behaviour which involved you writing-off one car and damaging another when you were drunk.

“You then lied to the police.”

He imposed a community payback order with 100 hours of unpaid work. Squire was also disqualified from driving for 20 months.