A BUSINESS owner who crashed his car while drunk driving has been ordered to pay a fine.

Liam Ali collided with a lamppost on Curtis Avenue, King’s Park, on May 24, last year.

The 33-year-old appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court after previously pleading guilty to driving whilst five times over the booze limit.

The prosecutor said: “At around 1am, the accused was travelling in a black Audi car. He travelled into a right-hand bend and appeared to have lost control of the vehicle.

“He mounted the curb on the opposite carriageway and collided into a lamppost.

Glasgow Times:

“This caused extensive damage to the front bumper of the vehicle and damage to the lamppost, causing several streetlights to go off.

“Police attended and found the accused standing next to the car. Police noted a strong smell of alcohol. When officers read out a section of the Road Traffic Act, the accused replied, ‘it was obviously me’.”

The court heard Ali, of King’s Park, has no previous convictions.

His defence solicitor said: “Prior to the pandemic, he had been owner of a local restaurant but couldn’t sustain this financially during lockdown. He has since opened his own dessert business.

“His wife will be joining him from Pakistan soon. He is aware a disqualification period will follow. He is in a position to pay a financial penalty, but unpaid work may be more appropriate.”

Sheriff Mary Shields disqualified Ali for two years and ordered him to pay a £600 fine.

She told him: “It’s unfortunate that you appear before the court for the first time.”