Former police detective walks free from court after testing seven times over drink drive limit
Former cop crashes car near Perth after high speed drive on A90
A police officer sped home from a disciplinary meeting with force chiefs at 100 miles per hour and while he was more than seven times over the drink drive limit.
Detective Simon Reader crashed during the 250-mile journey home after spending most of the previous day binge drinking and topping up in the car with a bottle of gin.
Countless motorists had to swerve out of Reader's way as he weaved in and out of traffic at 100 miles per hour on the dual carriageway.
Reader admitted dangerous and drunken driving - but walked free from court on Wednesday after blaming the stress of his job with Police Scotland for having a mental breakdown.
Perth Sheriff Court was told Reader had been called to a meeting with his superiors on 21 January and warned that he could face losing his job because of "health issues".
He then went back to his hotel room and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening drinking "very, very heavily" before setting off from Aberdeen the following morning.
Fiscal depute Robbie Brown told the court that during a 30-mile stretch from Dundee to the M90 near Perth he forced several motorists to swerve to avoid colliding with him.
"He was seen weaving about the inside and outside lanes on the Kingsway and undertaking vehicles. On the A90 at Inchture the accused was seen to pass a vehicle at approximately 100 miles per hour. He was seen slowing to 40 mph to weave in and out the traffic flow. Other vehicles had to take evasive action. He continued braking harshly and weaving about. A number of collisions were narrowly avoided. On the M90 he was seen travelling at 100 mph in the inside lane. He was overtaking and had to brake sharply because he hadn't reacted to approaching another car. He swerved and lost control, mounting the central reservation, striking the barrier and crossing both lanes before coming to rest partly on the hard shoulder and partly on the lane facing north."
Mr Brown said Reader initially gave a breath sample at the roadside which measured 157 mics - more than seven times the 22 mics limit. He subsequently refused to give a breath test.
Solicitor George Donnelly, defending, told the court his client had been a serving police officer with Grampian Police and then with Police Scotland when all forces were merged.
"He served four years in uniform and transferred to CID for six years. He had an exemplary record and no disciplinary issues at all. That career was something he was extremely proud of and regrets the loss of," he said.
Mr Donnelly said Reader's marriage began to falter and "pressure within work" led to him suffering a nervous breakdown in 2012. Reader used alcohol as "a coping mechanism."
"On the day before this incident he had been called to a meeting in Aberdeen by Police Scotland and told that given his ill health there was serious consideration being given to - and the probability - that he would be dismissed by Police Scotland.
"That impacted deeply upon him. He would seem to have resorted to alcohol. He drank very, very heavily for the rest of the day and that evening in the hotel room and the decision to drive from Aberdeen followed. He now lives in County Durham with his parents and it was a fateful decision which has brought him here. He does not offer any excuses whatsoever for getting behind the wheel. By good fortune, rather than good judgment, no-one was injured as a result of this episode. He was so distressed by his behaviour and detention in custody that he has resigned from Police Scotland. The news of 21 January and driving of 22 January was reaching a nadir in his life, from the breakdown of his marriage and the inability to work."
Sheriff William Wood said: "These are very serious matters. One of the few things that can be said to be to your advantage was that no-one was hurt. It was at the upper end of recklessness.
You were intoxicated from Aberdeen and this particular phase took place over 30 miles. I have given serious thought to a custodial sentence. It is clearly an aggravation that you knew you were intoxicated. With considerable hesitation I have determined that is not how I am going to deal with it. I take into account your previous exemplary character and the number of difficulties caused, directly or indirectly, by your employment in public service. You should regard yourself as fortunate that you are not going to prison." He banned Reader from driving for three years and placed him on a 7pm to 7am curfew for six months.
Reader said "thank you" to the sheriff before being ushered out a rear door of the court by a member of the Scottish Police Federation.
Reader, 45, admitted driving dangerously on the Kingsway, the A90 Perth to Dundee road and the M90 Perth to Inverkeithing motorway on 22 January this year. He also admitted failing to provide breath specimens.
Police Scotland said: "Officers are subject to the same traffic regulations as members of the public. Anyone found to breach these will be dealt with appropriately."