A significant incident involving a world champion bagpiper, Jonathan Greenlees, unfolded on 14 April this year in Crieff, Perthshire, resulting in extensive property damage and legal repercussions. Greenlees, an accountant and recently appointed Finance Director of Securigroup Ltd, was involved in a drunken driving episode that caused tens of thousands of pounds in damages to multiple vehicles.
On the night of the incident, Greenlees was allegedly more than three times over the legal alcohol limit when he took to the wheel of his £45,000 electric Polestar car. The car itself played a critical role in alerting the authorities, as it recorded the series of collisions that occurred over nearly 30 minutes, culminating in several loud bangs that drew the attention of witnesses in the area.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson presented details at Perth Sheriff Court, emphasising that local residents heard the collisions and emerged from their homes to find Greenlees inside his car. When police arrived approximately ten minutes later, he was attempting to restart the vehicle. Observations made by the officers noted that Greenlees appeared dazed and was slurring his speech. An ambulance attended the scene, confirming that he was fit for police custody after an initial health assessment.
Upon examination, Greenlees registered a breath alcohol level of 70 micrograms, well above the legal limit of 22 micrograms. His driving behaviour was described as erratic, including travelling at excessive speeds, not maintaining lane discipline, and frequently driving on the wrong side of the road. The dashcam footage from his vehicle further substantiated these claims, displaying the dangerous maneuvers including colliding with stationary cars and mounting the kerb.
Defence solicitor Jim Brady noted in court that Greenlees believed he might have experienced an unusual reaction combining alcohol and his medication, Citalopram. He expressed that his client could not recall the events leading up to and including the driving incident. "This incident came as a result of a combination of alcohol and a very unusual reaction because of medication the accused was taking," Brady stated. He highlighted that Greenlees had reportedly consumed four to five glasses of wine during the evening.
Greenlees, a resident of Wykeham Road in Glasgow, subsequently admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol as well as driving dangerously. Sheriff Alison McKay deferred sentencing, scheduling it to allow time for social work reports, surveillance footage examination, and potential restrictions on Greenlees' liberty.
During the proceedings, Sheriff McKay remarked on the severity of the driving, indicating that it posed significant risks not only to Greenlees himself but also to the public. She noted, “I would suggest he drove at the higher end of dangerousness."
Greenlees, who was once crowned the Champion Piper at the National Mod Piping Competition in Oban in 2015, has garnered multiple world titles as a member of the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band. His recent legal troubles mark a drastic turn from his distinguished musical career and professional role.
Source: Noah Wire Services