A drunk driver smashed into a brick wall causing it to collapse and sever a gas pipe.

Mathew Bain, 31, of Ruchazie, was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court recently after pleading guilty to five charges.

He admitted to driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs, failing to keep control of a car, assaulting a police officer, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, and failing to provide two breath specimens.

The court heard that a taxi driver had been on Amulree Street in Shettleston at around 2.40pm on March 28, 2021, when he saw Bain leave a property.

Bain appeared to stumble in the direction of a car before falling against the driver’s side.

He then got into the vehicle and began to drive. The taxi driver had concerns and followed behind for a short distance.

Bain drove in the direction of Old Shettleston Road and appeared to be driving erratically, drifting towards the centre of the road.

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He then tried to take a sharp right turn onto Duror Street without slowing down and lost control, colliding with a large brick wall.

The collision caused the wall to collapse and severed a gas supply pipe.

Bain got out of the car and the taxi driver asked him to remain at the scene as they were phoning police.

Officers attended and spoke to Bain who stated “I tried to take the corner but it just kept going”. Police noted a strong smell of alcohol coming from his breath.

He was arrested and placed in the back of a police vehicle. Whilst there he grabbed the handle of the open door and forcefully shut it striking an officer on the leg.

Bain was taken to Stewart Street police station where he refused to provide two specimens of breath.

He was cautioned and charged to which he replied “I want your badge numbers”.

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Bain’s lawyer told the court that his client had felt capable of driving at the time but that he had “got it wrong”.

The defence solicitor said: “His position is that he had been drinking the night before but he had stopped before midnight.

“He was staying at a friend's house. He got it wrong, he felt capable and able to drive and that was obviously not the case.

“All of this happened because of an error of judgement that he made. He takes full responsibility.”

Addressing Bain, Sheriff Collette Gallagher said: “It is clear to me that regardless of how you felt at the time you should have been in no doubt about your fitness to drive.

“This behaviour appears to be out of character.”

Sheriff Gallagher disqualified Bain from driving for 19 months. He was also placed on a community payback order with 160 hours of unpaid work.

Bain was also tagged for 144 days keeping him indoors from 8pm to 5.30am.