Businessman drove golf buggy while drunk ‘as a prank’

Colin Peat, a director at Central Demolition, was at a charity event at Glenbervie Golf Club, Larbert on June 5 and had been drinking all day.

He was waiting for a taxi to pick him up when he saw his friend’s golf buggy parked outside and decided to play a practical joke.

Peat, 47, of Bonnybridge appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court today after pleading guilty to driving an unregistered vehicle while under the influence and without insurance at an earlier hearing.

Procurator fiscal depute Ann Orr told the court police were doing a routine check when they saw the accused driving a golf buggy on Stirling Road, Larbert, with a passenger beside him and someone hanging off the back.

She said: “The police stopped him and could smell alcohol on his breath and noticed he was slurring his speech. He admitted straight away that he had been drinking all day and there was in fact a bottle of beer sitting in the cart.

“He told officers he took the cart because it belonged to his friend but they said it was hard to understand the background because he was so intoxicated.”

Peat was breathalysed and found to have 97 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

Defence solicitor Gordon Addison said his client, who has previous motoring offences, was ashamed of his actions.

Mr Addison said: “He was waiting on a taxi to collect him and decided to take his friend’s golf buggy and drive it down the road to the near by car garage and park it up in the forecourt, making it look like it was for sale.

“The garage was just minutes away but unfortunately as soon as they left the club, the police drove past.”

Mr Addison said the charge had brought consequences for him personally and the business and that losing his licence would be catastrophic for the company director, who clocks up 45,000 miles a year on business.

He said: “His company was founded in the Falkirk area and provides jobs for lots of local people but it has expanded and is one of the biggest demolition companies south of the border too.

“He drives to price jobs all over the country, and losing his licence will mean he needs to be chauffeured.

“He has lost the respect of others in the business and is working at building those bridges.”

Sheriff Linda Smith said Peat would have to lose his licence and urged him to get help for his drinking.

Sheriff Smith said: “Someone of your age and position within the community should know better than this.

“You have previous convictions for your drinking so you are well aware of the seriousness of these matters. Your reading was well over four times the limit and your decision making was impaired. I urge you to get help for your drinking and put an end to this.”

Peat was disqualified from driving for six years and given a community pay back order with 18 months supervision and the condition he carry out 270 hours of unpaid work in the community. He was also told to pay a £400 fine.

Speaking outside the court, Peat said: “It was just a prank, I didn’t know you couldn’t drive a golf buggy on the road.”