Garage worker warned police about drink-driver

 

A Dunfermline chef was caught drink driving after a concerned garage worker contacted the police. 

It was clear to the employee that Laxman Adhikari was under the influence of alcohol as he staggered from his car to buy cigarettes in the early hours of the morning. 

It was later found that the Nepalese chef, who appeared in court with a translator, was more than three times over the limit. 

Adhikari (38), of Howard Crescent, Dunfermline, admitted that on 7th September in Bothwell Street, he drove a car having consumed excess alcohol.  

His reading was 74 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 22 microgrammes. 

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said at 12.40am Adhikari drove his car into the forecourt of a garage. 

“A worker saw him get out his car. He was stumbling and staggered over to the window of the kiosk to ask for cigarettes,” she continued. 

“The staff member asked him what kind of cigarettes and he replied ‘any’. 

“He was provided with cigarettes and returned to his vehicle. The worker had been able to smell alcohol from his breath when serving him through the window. 

“The accused was then seen to drive off and the garage attendant contacted the police, concerned about his fitness to drive.” 

When police went to Adhikari’s home he told them he had consumed a pint of beer and a quantity of whisky after finishing his work at 10.30pm. 

Defence solicitor Jonathan Mathieson-Dear said his client and his wife were both employed as chefs at a restaurant. 

After work, his client had gone to a friend’s house in Dunfermline and had been drinking alcohol. 

“He intended to walk home which would have taken five minutes but he had ran out of cigarettes and foolishly decided to drive half a mile to purchase them. 

“He accepts he was well over the limit and ought not to have been driving at all. He apologises for that. 

“He is a British national having lived in this country for nine years and is originally from Nepal. This was a serious error of judgement on this part and he’s ashamed of himself.” 

Sheriff Robert Weir banned Adhikari from driving for 16 months and fined him £375.

 

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