The Earl of Dundee has been caught drink-driving after travelling so slowly that he was trailed home by a concerned passerby.
Alexander Scrymgeour, the 12th Earl of Dundee, admitted he had downed “a few glasses of wine” before trying to drive home when he was more than double the legal alcohol limit.
After leaving a friend’s home, the Conservative peer was spotted driving excessively slowly and veering in and out of the oncoming lane in St Michaels, Fife.
His driving caused so much concern he was followed for several minutes by a passing driver, who also contacted the police.
“At 12.35 am, the witness was driving behind the accused when he noticed the accused’s vehicle being driven over both lanes, mounting pavements and grass verges, and going much slower than the speed limit,” fiscal depute Carrie-Ann MacKenzie told the court.
“His concern was such that he made contact with the police and continued to follow the accused until police traced him.”
Police arrived at 12:50am and stopped the Earl who they said was slurring his words, smelt of alcohol and admitted to having had a few glasses of wine.
“He confirmed he had been driving. He provided a specimen for a roadside breath test which was positive and he was conveyed to Dundee police station,” Ms MacKenzie continued.
‘He realises the error of his ways’
On Friday, Scrymgeour, who is Chief of the Clan Scrymgeour, admitted at Dundee Sheriff Court to drink driving on 12 May this year.
The 75-year-old sitting member of the House of Lords was driving over two times the legal alcohol limit – his reading was 50 micrograms when the legal limit is 22 micrograms.
He was cautioned and charged, before being released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date, Ms MacKenzie told the court.
Solicitor John Boyle, defending, said: “He is 75 and has no previous convictions. This was a misjudgment on his part. He had been at a friend’s house.
“Some alcohol was taken and he thought he would be fit to drive. He realises the error of his ways and apologises to the court. He is a farmer in the local area.
“Given his employment in a rural area, there will be some difficulty relying on public transport. Disqualification will be pretty significant for him. In terms of a financial penalty he will be in a position to meet that within 28 days.”
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael fined Scrymgeour £200 and banned him from the road for 12 months, reduced from 15 months to take account of his early plea of guilty. It will be reduced by a further three months if the peer completes a drink drive rehabilitation course.
Scrymgeour was educated at Ludgrove School and Eton College, before attending the University of St Andrews, and was a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II.
Lord Scrymgeour has been sitting in the House of Lords since his father’s death in 1983, and served as a the Conservative Party whip in the House of Lords from 1986 to 1989.
In 1999, he was made an elected hereditary peer and took the title Earl of Dundee.
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