A DIRECTOR of a car sales business was caught behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs.

Gerard Grimley, 38, was snared by police in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, on September 14 2022.

A court heard Grimley collided into railings and traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing which caused significant damage to them.

Prosecutor Monique Cooney stated that Grimley was "trapped" in his Audi TT and emergency services had to assist.

Police attended and Grimley, of Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, admitted he was responsible.

Miss Cooney said: "He provided a sample for a drug swipe and it returned a positive result for cocaine."

A further blood test was carried out which gave a reading of 200 microgrammes of cocaine per litre of blood.

The limit is 10 microgrammes.

Grimley pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to dangerous driving and driving with the exceeded amount of cocaine in his blood.

His lawyer told the sentencing: "He is employed as a director of a car business which he shares with his brother.

"This is a successful business which has operated for eight years.

"He deeply regrets this incident and takes full responsibility for it.

"He has had a major reality check while driving."

It was also revealed that Grimley has had to employ a driver as a result of his licence being revoked.

Sheriff Owen Mullan fined Grimley £600 and disqualified him from driving for 14 months.

He was also ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid work and tagged for two months keeping him indoors between 8pm and 7am.

The sheriff said: "It is acknowledged rightly that this was really poor driving in the circumstances.

"The consequences could have been grave."