A MATURE student has been jailed for drink driving

William Murphy has previous convictions for the same type of offending Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday.

The accused was caught when a witness observed a Vauxhall driving near the Miners Welfare Institute, in Lochore, at around 9.45pm.

The driver got out and staggered into the club. While back inside the witness recognised the accused and told him he could not come in because he had already had too much to drink.

He was escorted off the premises and staff took his car keys off him, concerned he would get behind the wheel.

Murphy was seen repeatedly getting in and out of the car, looking for the keys, and at this point the witness called the police.

Police observed that Murphy was clearly under the influence of alcohol.

At around 10.20pm, the accused refused to give a specimen of breath and there was no reason for that.

When charged and cautioned he said, "Can I get a lawyer?"

Murphy, 50, of Hillview, Cowdenbeath, previously admitted that on October 14 at Dunfermline Police Station, he did without reasonable excuse, fail to provide two specimens of breath for analysis by means of a device, and it will be shown that the said specimens of breath were required to ascertain his ability to drive or the proportion of alcohol in his breath at the time he was driving a car.

Defence solicitor, Gordon Martin, said that the court may be concerned about his previous convictions, all be it they were spread over a 20 year period.

"It appears that he drank on this occasion after a short period of time of not taking medication," Mr Martin said.

"There is difficulties with his home life. His partner had been diagnosed with an illness and he has his own health difficulties.

"He is in his third year of university and he thinks he could be put off the course if he had a custodial sentence and as a result he would have substantial debt.

"In addition the family would suffer because the various awards he has been given to do his studies would come to an end.

"He suffers from use of alcohol."

Sheriff Chris Shead said: "One of the convictions is from 22 years ago and the other is 16 years ago, this might influence the Court.

"However, I have reached the conclusion that a custodial sentence is in the interest of the public."

Murphy was jailed for four months and disqualified from holding a driving licence.