A CAR salesman took a car from his work out for a drive when he had been drinking.

When the car broke down in Cairneyhill, matters spiralled out of control for Stephen Donaghy – resulting in him losing his job and ending up in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Donaghy, 25, of Rashierigg Place, Longridge, Bathgate, admitted that on January 13, at Main Street, Cairneyhill, he failed to co-operate with a roadside breath test.

He also admitted that at Dunfermline police station, he again failed to provide breath specimens.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said that at 1.25am, a local resident was woken up by a blaring car horn.

She looked outside and saw Donaghy. “He was acting in a manner which caused her to call the police,” added the depute.

“She thought he was under the influence of alcohol. He was standing next to a car and there was no-one else there.”

Police arrived and noticed Donaghy “was unsteady on his feet and there was a smell of alcohol from him”, said Mr Kapadia.

He told them he had been driving the car and it had broken down. Police checks showed the car was insured by a car dealership.

When asked to do a roadside breath test, Donaghy spat out the tube and said: “F*** off and arrest me.”

He was arrested and responded by again telling officers to “f*** off”.

At Dunfermline police station, Donaghy refused to provide breath specimens and told officers: “F*** off scum”.

Defence agent Peter Robertson said Donaghy had been working as a car salesman for the company for a month when the offence occurred.

“On the night in question, he has had a drink. He refused to give the sample because he was aware he may be over the limit,” added the solicitor.

“He was extremely upset and realised the hole he’d got himself into when the car broke down. He was feeling sorry for himself. He lost a good job because of this and he apologises for his actions.”

Sheriff James MacDonald told Donaghy: “You were the author of your own misfortune.”

He imposed a community payback order with 75 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for 12 months.