Lights-off drink driver hits two cars in Buckie and hangs out passenger window
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A DRINK driver pleaded guilty to hitting two cars and injuring a person while tearing across Buckie with no lights.
On February 16, Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Lee Cunningham (33) was driving a Volkwagen Transporter van in Buckie on February 1, 2020.
Fiscal depute Emma Petersen told the court about Cunningham's journey that night.
She said: "At the time of the offence a witness observed a Volkswagen Transporter vehicle driving with no lights.
"The witness said it collided with another motor vehicle before continuing along the road.
"Another witness saw it and noted the accused to be hanging out of the passenger window of the van.
“The witness noticed that the van's lights were still out.
“The accused was also reported as going too fast from the area before he collided with another motor vehicle.
“Police were contacted and located the vehicle at West Land Street in Buckie.
“On attending, the accused was traced in a living room there and was wearing a different set of clothes.
“A specimen of breath was obtained just before midnight."
Cunningham pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without lights on West Church Street, South Land Street, Elsely Place, Netherha Road and Letterfourie Road in Buckie.
He also pleaded guilty to failing to stop for Police and for drink driving.
In a breath test, Police found him to be four times over the alcohol limit.
He was found to have 93 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 22/100.
Solicitor Manini Matteo, representing Cunningham, said his client had no memory of the incident.
Mr Matteo said: “Mr Cunningham said he understands he is in a precarious situation.
“He says he can’t remember driving at all and he wishes to apologise to the complainer.
“There were other work colleagues in the van at the time.
“There was supposed to be a fight happening and he drove the vehicle away from the incident.
“He has had a hard time of late and that has certainly affected his mental health.
“These factors give some indication about why he is where he is."
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov deferred Cunningham's sentencing for the preparation of a restriction of liberty assessment.
