Drink drive soldier is set to face court martial

Published 21 Oct 2009 11:35

A SOLDIER has escaped a heavy punishment for drink driving from Alloa Sheriff Court because he faces even more severe sanctions from the army.

On Thursday the court was told by an army official that guardsman Paul Ford will face a military Court Martial after admitting crashing his car outside the Dunmar Hotel in Alloa and driving off after he had been drinking at a wedding.

Ford (30), from Bonnybridge, pled guilty to driving without due care and attention at the hotel and failing to stop after being involved in an accident. He further admitted driving at Blackgrange with 53 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the limit is 35 microgrammes. All offences took place on 4 October this year.

The court was told by fiscal depute Jim Graham that police were called by Ford who told them he had driven earlier whilst under the influence of alcohol.

He was subsequently arrested and taken into police custody.

A guest at a wedding the previous day at the hotel returned to her car to find it was dented and scratched.

The incident had been recorded on CCTV and on reviewing it Ford's VW Golf was seen to collide with the parked vehicle.

In his police interview the accused admitted being drunk and being involved in an incident before getting a lift home. Following the incident Mr Graham said Ford had "shown a degree of honesty".

Defence solicitor Robert Smith said his client had consumed a large amount of alcohol and could offer no explanation for his actions. After crashing, Ford was going to phone police when two members of the public offered him a lift and advised against making the call.

Mr Smith added that Ford would be fined one month's wages - around £1500 - with a military trial set to take place where he could still receive a custodial sentence. Any promotions Ford would be eligible for would also be put back by two to five years.

Sheriff David Mackie said he was duty bound to give Ford a 12-month disqualification from driving but would not punish him any further.

He said, "Your conduct in presenting yourself to police is unusual and commendable. I am going to take an unusual step in view of the penalty you may get from the army. You should not be punished twice, therefore I am going to admonish you."

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