AN INTOXICATED gritter truck driver caused £37,000 worth of damage to vehicles and a wall in Alloa when he crashed his vehicle on Hogmanay.

The offender was 57-year-old James McGarvie, of Orkney Court, Alloa.

He said he had not slept for around two days and had taken medication before getting back behind the wheel when asked to work.

McGarvie admitted that on December 31, at Hill Street and Claremont, Alloa and elsewhere, he drove a gritter truck dangerously and whilst under the influence of controlled substances and/or medication, collided with a garden wall and repeatedly collided with parked vehicles.

Depute fiscal Sean Iles told Alloa Sheriff Court that the damage caused to the “listed” wall cost £5,000 to repair.

The cost of damage to two vehicles was £8,000 and £24,000, respectively.

Sheriff Neil Bowie said: “He doesn’t seem to take a great amount of responsibility for his actions in driving a gritter lorry when intoxicated.

“That’s what comes through in the report.”

Defence solicitor Robert Smith said: “He doesn’t know what happened. He hadn’t slept and had taken a sleeping pill or maybe Valium.”

The sheriff said: “Any sensible person would have said they had taken tablets and hadn’t slept for two days.”

Mr Smith replied: “With the benefit of hindsight he knows he should have done that but he can’t turn the clock back.”

The sheriff noted: “He gives various excuses for his conduct including blaming his employers for some odd reason.”

McGarvie was put on a community payback order with 270 hours of unpaid work and one year of supervision.

He was also banned from driving for 38 months and until he passes the extended test.