Boozed up Ayrhsire gritter driver banned and jobless

Mar 12 2010 )

A BOOZED-UP road gritter crashed his work lorry after a heavy drinking session.

Scott Bunton is now jobless after the blunder on February 15 this year.

The 40-year-old quit his job with East Ayrshire Council straight after he was charged with drink driving on the A76 near New Cumnock.

Police turned up as Bunton was desperately trying to free the stuck lorry but they quickly realised that he was under the influence of alcohol.

When he was breathalised at the roadside, Bunton was found to be two and half times the legal limit.

At Ayr Sheriff Court this week, depute fiscal Hayley Robertson told Sheriff David Hall that the gritting lorry was seen on the verge at the side of the road having collided with a road sign.

Bunton, who worked for the council for seven years, has now applied for state benefits to support himself.

Defence lawyer, Colin Adam, told the court that Bunton had been working earlier in the day but was on standby that night.

Mr Adam said: “There had been rain and sleet and he didn’t anticipate that the weather conditions would deteriorate.

“He received a call and rather than telling his employer he had been drinking, he went out.”

Bunton, of Lamont Crescent in Cumnock, was fined £400 and banned from the road for 18 months.

Sheriff Hall told him: “I will give you credit for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity and I understand you left your job shortly after this incident.

“It was extremely foolish behaviour.”