Banned after drinking cough linctus

A SHETLAND-based technician is likely to lose his job with Scottish Water, after taking cough medicine pushed him over the limit for drink driving.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard that 40 year old Melvyn Henderson was almost twice the legal limit when he was stopped on the town’s Sound Brae on 10 June.

The court heard that Henderson, of 2 Park Lane, Lerwick, had drunk four cans of cider the night before, but had also taken several doses of Covonia cough linctus which contains 15 per cent alcohol.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police had acted on a tip off, but defence solicitor Gregor Kelly refuted any suggestion that his client was in the habit of drink driving.

Mr Kelly said that in all likelihood the alcohol from the cider would have dissipated overnight, but his client had not taken into account the impact of the cough medicine. “It was poor judgement on his behalf”, he said.

Sheriff Philip Mann told Henderson that it was his responsibility to ensure that he knew what he was taking into his body, particularly when he was driving.

Henderson can reduce the period of disqualification by six months should he successfully complete a drink drivers rehabilitation course. He was also fined £720. Henderson is most likely to lose his job with the water utility.