A DRINK driver whose car ended up on its roof following a smash with a lamppost told police: “I could have killed people.”
Thomas Stanton — who was nearly three times the booze limit — rolled his Vauxhall Corsa on Greenock’s Inverkip Road.
The 38-year-old dad-of-two lost control of the vehicle during a late-night journey home following a drinking session with pals.
He decided to get behind the wheel whilst intoxicated when arrangements to stay at a friend’s flat fell through.
Prosecutor Saud Ul Hassan told Greenock Sheriff Court: “At 11.30pm police on uniformed mobile patrol were stopped by a witness who informed them of a road traffic accident.
“A vehicle had rolled onto its roof and crashed onto a lamppost, which was damaged.”
The court heard that Stanton sustained a head injury as a result of the incident on March 12.
A test carried out to ascertain his ability to drive showed that he had 141mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 50mg.
Fiscal depute Mr Ul Hassan said: “Another witness, an off-duty nurse, was at the locus and speaking to the driver, who was sitting on the damaged lamppost.”
The court was told that Stanton told police: “I’ve done it, I’ve been on the drink.
“It’s yous I feel sorry for, having to pick up the pieces.
“I could have killed people.”
Defence lawyer Edward Sweeney said: “Mr Stanton had been at a football game that Sunday and had planned to leave his car.
“He had intended to stay the night at a friend’s home but that did not transpire and he left the flat.
“He has no real recollection of why he left the flat, or the incident.”
Sheriff Linda Smith banned Stanton, of Smithy Court, Inverkip, from driving for 16 months.
She also ordered him to complete 185 hours of unpaid work within six months.