Pass a Drug Test

A bus driver tailed by traffic police because of his erratic manoeuvres was found to be high after taking drugs, a court has heard.

Colin McLenaghan was swerving from side to side and straddling the centre of the road as his bus with several passengers on board travelled from Brookfield to Johnstone in Renfrewshire.

When police pulled the bus over, McLenaghan, 30, seemed lethargic and his pupils were “like pin-pricks”, Paisley Sheriff Court was told.

Racing line

Asked about his driving, he told officers: “I was only taking the racing line”.

A breath test proved negative. McLenaghan said: “I did valium last night and half a joint in the early hours.”

Depute fiscal Kenneth Grieve told the court the bus failed to give way at a roundabout and another vehicle had to brake violently to avoid a collision.

Results of a drug screen test from Glasgow University were passed to Sheriff David Pender.

McLenaghan, 30, of Loch Road, Bridge of Weir, pleaded guilty three weeks ago to being unfit to drive his vehicle through drink or drugs on 8 December last year.

The sheriff, who had previously deferred sentence and called for a DVLA licence print-out from Swansea, told him that he had not ordered background reports earlier as it had not been clear from reading the complaint that McLenaghan had been driving a bus.

Drug counselling

Adjourning the case further to allow reports to be completed, he told the accused: “Clearly this is a much more serious matter than it apeared at a first glance of the complaint.”

Defence agent Charlie McCusker said he already had written confirmation that his client was addressing his drug problem and had been attending a rehabilitation unit for counselling.

The sheriff warned the accused that his licence was still suspended.