A POLISH lorry driver who hit a wall as he drove through Lochgelly around midnight last month was almost FIVE times over the limit.

Andrzej Kotula had had trouble manoeuvering his HGV, and residents who came out to help him called the police after finding him drunk.

Officers found Kotula unsteady on his feet and smelling of alcohol, but as Kotula’s English was “not fluent”, had to call for an interpreter before arresting him.

Kotula (54) was again assisted by an interpreter when he appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

He had been banned from driving since his last Court appearance and had to surrender his passport preventing him from returning to Poland.

Kotula had previously admitted that on 26th July, this year, on Lochgelly High Street, he drove a lorry after consuming excess alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath was 105 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22mcg.

Fiscal depute, Dev Kapadia, said Kotula had been on his way back to Poland when the incident occurred at around 11.50pm, after Kotula turned the HGV from The Avenue onto the High Street.

He narrated, “Witnesses who lived close by noted that it was taking a very long time to make the turn.” The lorry had made its way up The Avenue anda the driver then attempted to turn into High Street.

This operation proved difficult for the driver and he took several attempts and in one effort struck a garden wall.

“In the course of the manoeuvre, it made contact with a garden wall on the High Street,” he added.

“Residents who were watching this then went outside to move a van to allow the HGV more room to manoeuvre.

“The incident attracted attention from other members of the public who tried to assist him in manoeuvering the lorry.

“He got out of the cab and it became apparent to the witnesses that he was possibly drunk, and police were contacted.” Officers found Kotula in the driver’s seat with the engine running, and when they spoke to him it was “immediately obvious that he was under the influence”.

Mr Kapadia continued, “When asked to come out of the driver’s cab, his balance was unsteady and they could clearly smell alcohol on his breath.

“He identified himself as the driver and when it became apparent that his English was not fluent, an interpreter was contacted and thereafter he was arrested of suspected drink-driving.” Kotula told officers, “I do not know what to say.” He later registered a reading of 105mcg and when cautioned and charged, commented, “I think that’s the legal limit. I cannot consider England and Scotland as separate countries.” Kotula had given his address as Basten Sneddon Solicitors in Dunfermline but solicitor Chris Sneddon said he had since found temporary accommodation at Old School Court, in Tullibody.

Mr Sneddon clarified that Kotula had not been driving back to Poland at the time of the incident, as he had not been due to pick up his load until the Monday morning.

He said Kotula had parked the HGV and had decided to stay put until Monday, but had been told he could not leave it where it was.

Mr Sneddon continued, “He’s a first offender and has not been in trouble before. He has stated that he would do anything to avoid a custodial sentence.” Sheriff Simon Collins told Kotula, “You were five times over the limit in a large commercial vehicle in a built-up area and I’m trying to find alternatives to custody.

“You’re 54 years-old, a first offender, but you were nearly five times over the drink-drive limit and you drove a HGV through a residential area with the obvious dangers to road users, pedestrians, householders and yourself.” He disqualified Kotula from driving for two years and imposed a community payback order with 175 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months.