Bereaved Scot who lost partner to drunk driver backs calls for lower blood alcohol limit
Charles Pease, whose partner Theresa was killed in a horror crash in Mull in 2015, said the move could save lives.
A man who lost his partner to a drunk driver has backed a campaign to reduce the legal blood alcohol limit for motorists.
Charles Pease, whose partner Theresa Wade, 29, was killed in a horror crash in Mull in 2015, said the move could save lives.
It comes after Theresa's killer, Thomas Wainwright, this week allegedly went on the run while on parole.
He was jailed for 12 years after smashing his hired Maserati supercar into the van of island vet Theresa while he was boozed up.
He falsely blamed her until it emerged in court he had downed five ciders and two whiskies on an eight-hour binge before getting behind the wheel.
Road safety charity Brake has launched a campaign to slash the legal blood alcohol limit to 20mg per 100ml of blood – meaning as little as half a pint could put a driver over the limit.
Charles, 69, said: 'I support it. It will take people off the roads that would otherwise be placing others in potential jeopardy.
"It has been almost 10 years since I lost Theresa and she continues to be very much on my mind.
"She would, I'm sure, have definitely advocated for a reduction in the limit.'
In 2014 Scotland cut the limit from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 50mg – one to two pints for an average person. In England and Wales, the limit is still 80mg.
Drink and drug driving rates in Scotland remain high. Official data showed over 5500 offences last year – the highest since 2021.
Charles said the life of his 'generous, kind and loving' partner had been snuffed out by 'one foolish person'.
He said: 'Ultimately I would like to see zero tolerance of drink driving. It's shameful anyone still drinks and drives.'
Wainwright, jailed in 2017, had served half his sentence when he was granted early release in 2023. He is now wanted for violating his parole licence.
Charles said: 'I'm absolutely appalled. It's a sad reflection on the Scottish judicial system and the sooner he's taken back into custody, the better. Him being at large will put others at risk.'
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Scottish Prison Service said: 'An offender unlawfully at large will be returned to prison when apprehended.'
Brake wants a UK-wide 20mg blood alcohol limit to eradicate drink-driving. Research shows motorists having just one or two drinks are six times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
The charity's website states: "Every year, more than 200 people die in drink-driving incidents on UK roads…
'Some people think driving after one or two drinks is safe, but drinking any alcohol can affect our driving and increase our risk of a crash.'
The British Medical Association also last year backed a 20mg limit for new and commercial drivers.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Our thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one to drink driving.
"Any injury or death as a result of drink driving is one too many and our message to those drivers who continue to ignore the law and drive above the alcohol limit is clear - drink driving is illegal and can ruin lives.
'Legislation to lower the drink drive limit to lowest in the UK was backed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament over a decade ago and was based on independent scientific evidence of when impairment begins to increase significantly, bringing Scotland into line with the majority of other European countries.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
BMW fleeing scene of break-in at Scots home crashes into police car
A teenage boy has since been arrested in connection with the housebreaking. A black BMW fleeing from the scene of a break-in at a property in Fife crashed into a police car. Officers were called out to reports of a home invasion in Dunlin Drive, Dunfermline, at around 3.55pm on Saturday, June 21. When the marked police car arrived, it was struck by a black BMW which then fled. A 17-year-old male has since been arrested in connection with the break-in. It has not been confirmed yet whether the BMW has been recovered. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Pictures from the quiet residential area show a patrol car with its blue lights flashing blocking off a road near a roundabout. The opposite side of the road is coned off. A sign on the ground warns motorists to slow down. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 3.55pm on Saturday, 21 June, 2025, police attended the Dunlin Drive area of Dunfermline, following a report of a housebreaking. 'A 17-year-old male has been arrested in connection with the incident. 'A black BMW car made off from the scene after colliding with a police vehicle and enquiries remain ongoing.'
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Stabbing on Scots street as man rushed to hospital with serious injuries
Police say the 42-year-old victim is in a serious condition A man is in a serious condition in hospital after being stabbed in a Glasgow street. Police were called to Albert Drive in Pollokshields around 2.30pm on Saturday after reports of a disturbance and serious assault. Images from the scene show a pavement at the corner of Darnley Street and Albert Drive sealed off by police as officers stand guard. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. A Police Scotland spokesperson said investigations into the incident are ongoing. They added: 'Around 2.30pm on Saturday, June 21, police received a report of a disturbance and serious assault in the Albert Drive area of Glasgow. 'A 42-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries and enquiries are ongoing.'
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Motorists warned of 5 new driving scams costing Brits thousands
Fraudsters are using 5 new tactics to trick drivers out of money. Motorists are being warned to be aware of new scams targeting British drivers. Fraudsters are costing motorists thousands of pounds with five new key tactics. From tampered QR codes on parking meters to convincing fake DVLA messages - drivers are being urged stay vigilant or risk losing their hard-earned cash. In 2024, scam reports to the DVLA soared to nearly 20,000, prompting motoring experts at LeaseLoco to make drivers aware of how to spot suspicious activity and avoid being caught out. While younger drivers aged 25-34 are the most common victims of vehicle-related scams like used car fraud and bogus insurance deals, older motorists are increasingly being targeted too - with fraudsters preying on their uncertainty around online payments to issue fake parking fines. John Wilmot, CEO of car lease comparison website LeaseLoco, said: 'Unfortunately driving-related scams are really common and they work well for fraudsters because they can create a sense of urgency. 'A lot of these scams will urge you to quickly pay a fee to avoid facing bigger fines. When we see something like this we often rush to get the payment done rather than stopping and checking the legitimacy of the message or letter. 'The good news is there are ways to spot these scams which can prevent you from losing any money. 2025 scams driver should to be aware of QR codes on parking meters Scammers are placing QR code stickers onto parking meters in the hopes of tricking motorists to scan the QR code and 'pay' for their parking. To avoid being caught out, stick to using official car parking apps such as RingGo and PayByPhone. It's also worth noting that most councils won't use QR codes for payment, but will instead tend to provide a machine or stick to apps. DVLA messages Fake DVLA messages often state that your license needs updating or that your car tax has failed, forcing you to hand over sensitive information. It's important to remember that the DVLA will never ask for money or personal information via email or text. Never click on any links within these messages and only access the DVLA website through Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. PCN fines Scammers may send fake parking charge notices to your house by post, urging you to pay a fake parking charge before the fine increases. A real PCN notice will have the date, time and location of your alleged violation. If you're still unsure whether your letter is real or not you can contact the council's parking department to check if the fine is genuine. Used car sales Be wary of any car deals that look too good to be true on online marketplaces. In 2023, nearly half a million pounds was reported as lost to Facebook car scams. Scammers will often post a fake ad for a car at a very low price and ask people interested for an upfront payment via bank transfer. They avoid having anyone come and see the car in person by claiming to be abroad too. When purchasing a used car, never make a payment before seeing the car in person and check the vehicle history on the government website. Toll or congestion charge messages Drivers can receive messages claiming they owe money for crossing a toll or congestion zone followed by a 'pay now' link. Before opening any links, remember that any genuine toll notifications will come from or other verified operators such as TfL, M6 Toll and Dart Charge for Dartford Crossing.
