Hero cops pull boozy driver from flood

Nov 30 2008 By Billy Paterson

A DRINK driver had to be rescued by police after he tried to flee his car and was swept away in a flood.

Engineer William Green, 48, stalled halfway through a torrent of water.

Police watched him escape only to be carried away by the current.

The boozy dad-of-two was pulled from the water by officers.

Prosecutor Andrew Calderwood said: "They found the vehicle was almost halfway across the road and water was halfway up the driver's side.

"The driver escaped out of the passenger door and left the vehicle but was carried away by the water.

"The police were able to rescue him."

Green, of Kilmarnock, admitted drink-driving at more than twice the legal limit in the town's Dean Road last month.

Last week lawyer Allan Kerr told Kilmarnock Sheriff Court Green had "absolutely no excuses" and he was "thoroughly ashamed of himself".

Sheriff Iona McDonald fined him £600 and imposed an 18-month driving ban.