Unfit to drive

A YOUNG Lerwick welder was banned for a year after being found guilty driving a motorbike while unfit through drink or drugs. 

A police patrol found Daryl Smith, of 62 Burgh Road, Lerwick, lying injured next to his motorbike in the early hours of 8 July last year at the town’s South Lochside.

The 22 year old pled guilty to charges of driving without a licence and insurance, but maintained that he had been fit to drive, although an alcohol test carried out four hours after the accident showed that he was just below the legal limit.

During the trial Smith insisted that the accident was caused by his inexperience rather than by the fact that he had been drinking earlier in the evening.

Representing Smith, defence solicitor Michael Burnett said the Crown had not been able to exclude any other credible possibility that might have led to the accident.

But procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said that Smith should never have been out on that bike.

He said he had made a series of bad decisions, which in itself was evidence that at the time Smith was impaired through drink.

Sheriff Philip Mann agreed with the Crown’s view, banned Smith for a year and also fined him £750.

He can reduce the period of disqualification by three months if he successfully completes a drink drivers’ rehabilitation course.