School bus driver spared jail over drink-drive incident at Renfrewshire school
A primary school bus driver who picked up and dropped off a coach full of children in Renfrewshire while drunk was today slammed for putting their lives at risk as he was spared jail for the offence.
A primary school bus driver who picked up and dropped off a coach full of children in Renfrewshire while drunk was today slammed for putting their lives at risk as he was spared jail for the offence.
Stephen McColgan, 52, could have been jailed for up to 12 months for picking the youngsters up from Bridge of Weir Primary School, in the village of Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, while more than three and a half times the limit.
He was allowed to walk free from court today after a sheriff was told he has taken steps to get treatment for his alcohol addiction.
But Sheriff Robert Fife blasted him for his actions - and warned him that he would be caged if he steps out of line again.
McColgan picked up the children at around 3pm from the school on Friday, September 9, last year and was caught by police a short time later - after he'd dropped the children off at their stops.
McColgan was arrested and held in police custody for three nights before appearing at Paisley Sheriff Court and pleading guilty.
He admitted having 72 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath - when the limit is just 22mcg - when stopped at the wheel of his Volvo, in breach of Section 5(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
He was fulfilling a school contract granted to coach firm Gibson Direct by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) - the body overseeing public transport and responsible for arranging school bus services in Renfrewshire.
Procurator Fiscal Depute Emma Jeffrey told the court McColgan was rumbled after speaking to someone who realised he'd been drinking.
The prosecutor explained: "The accused was driving a school bus in the Bridge of Weir area. "At the time he was collecting pupils from Bridge of Weir Primary School.
"Prior to the accused driving off, a member of the public spoke to the accused and was concerned he was smelling of alcohol.
"They brought this to the attention of the head teacher, who contacted the police."
Officers raced to investigate, caught McColgan a short time later and, when he failed a roadside breath test, took him in to custody, where it emerged he was more then three-and-a-half times the limit.
After hearing that McColgan had lost his job as a bus driver as a result of his conviction, Sheriff Robert Fife adjourned the case for him to be assessed by social workers and seek help for his alcohol addiction.
When McColgan returned to the dock today to learn his fate, defence solicitor Tony Callahan said McColgan had managed to turn his life around and was no sober. The lawyer explained: "He is in a far better place than he once was.
"He was actively seeking employment and is now hoping to start a job, in the not too distant future, as a stock taker - having been for the interview and passed it." Sheriff Fife said he would have jailed McColgan if he had any previous convictions.
But, as he is a first offender, he placed him on a Community Payback Order (CPO), requiring him to carry out 300 hours' unpaid work over the next 12 months and banned him from driving for three years.
As he did so, he warned McColgan that he could still be caged for the offence - as the CPO was being imposed as a direct alternative to custody - and hit out over his conduct.
The sheriff said: "I don't intend to go in to the facts and circumstances of the case but this was a very serious incident.
"Fortunately, there was no incident, but it is the health and safety aspect which is of concern to the court - you were putting young lives at risk.
"This is a direct alternative to a sentence of imprisonment.
"The discount for you pleading guilty is reflected in the fact I'm not sending you to prison.
"There will be a progress review in three months' time. "I expect a positive progress report every time you come to court, otherwise I'll just revoke the Community Payback Order and send you to prison."
A relieved McColgan, of Renfrew, near Glasgow, will return to the dock in March to see how he is progressing on the structured punishment.
Bridge of Weir Primary School has around 450 pupils.
The Head Teacher at the school, Mrs Carol Vallance, said she and her colleagues strive to help the development of their pupils.
In the welcome message for new parents on the school's website, she adds: "All of our staff hope that you will feel confident in leaving your children with us in the certain knowledge that we aim to help our pupils to become happy, well adjusted members of society.
"We aim to work in partnership with parents and ensure that every child is given the best opportunity to learn and progress."
Gibson Direct did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the incident.