Stirling student ‘has Maserati confiscated after drink-driving’

File picture of a Maserati. Chinese student Chenao Li has had his Maserati confiscated. Picture: Wiki Commons

A STUDENT at Stirling University has had his luxury car confiscated after twice being caught drink-driving.

Chenao Li, who is believed to be studying English at the university, had his Maserati confiscated and was also hit with a £1,950 fine.

Li, 22, was also banned from driving for three years by Sheriff Gillian Wade QC, who said he had shown ‘blatant disregard’ for the law.

Outside the court, Li reportedly said that Sheriff Wade ‘shouldn’t have confiscated my car’.

In the first of the two incidents, Li was stopped by police after driving on the wrong side of the road at around 3.30am on August 22 near Stirling station.

Adrian Fraser, prosecuting, said that Li was spoken to by police at the scene, adding: “[Police] noticed he was unsteady on his feet. He was using the car for balance and the officers could detect alcohol on his breath.”

A breath test showed that the student was three times over the legal limit.

Mr Fraser added: “When [Li] was charged, he said ‘I’ve just arrived in the UK and I don’t know the details of UK law.’”

Li was ordered to attend court on September 17, but was caught driving his Maserati again at 11.50pm on August 30th - just over a week after he was first stopped.

He was charged and held by police after he failed to provide a breath sample.

Li pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failing to provide a breath specimen.

Top-of-the-range Maseratis can cost as much as £126,000 with ‘entry-level’ vehicles starting at around £53,000.