Drink driving milkman

A LORRY driver who had enjoyed a few too many beers in the afternoon sun at the weekend has ended up losing his licence after spending more than 24 hours behind bars.

James Saunderson was arrested while driving along Lerwick’s Holmsgarth Road to work at the local dairy just after 4am on Monday morning.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday morning that the 60 year old had clearly been drinking and officers detected a strong smell of alcohol on his breath.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Saunderson had been out for a meal at the local carvery on Sunday afternoon and enjoyed a few tins of beer in the sunshine when he got home to his garden at 7 Mounthooly Place, Lerwick.

He had carried on drinking until 8.30pm, not realising that he would still be more than twice the drink drive limit when he set off to start work at 4.30am the next day.

“He thought he would be fit. Clearly he didn’t keep up with how much he had drunk,” Allan said.

The agent said Saunderson stood a good chance of losing his job at the dairy for whom he has driven a milk truck for the past six years.

Due to his early plea and his extended time in the cells due to the court being closed on Monday, Sheriff Philip Mann restricted the ban to 12 months, allowing him to reduce it by a further three months if he completes an alcohol awareness course, and cut the fine from £600 to £400.