Drink driver keeps licence

A LANARKSHIRE man narrowly avoided losing his licence at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday despite having previous drink driving convictions.

Alexander McNicol, of 13 Broomfield Street, Netherburn Larkhall, admitted being in charge of a car while over the legal alcohol limit in Lerwick town centre on 16 August this year.

Police, who were alerted by a concerned member of the public, found McNicol sitting in the driver’s seat of his car parked at Commercial Street, and speaking on his mobile phone.

The 54 year old plant operator was just over the drink driving limit.

Defence agent Sandy Morrison said his client had been intending to catch the ferry to Aberdeen at 5.30pm that evening.

The lawyer had ordered a toxicology report to see how drunk McNicol would have been when he drove to the ferry terminal, but it showed he would still have been over the limit.

McNicol had been in Shetland working on a short-term contract at Sullom Voe at the time, but is now in full time employment in Galashiels and commutes there from Larkhall.

The defence agent said McNicol needed his licence to drive home each evening to look after his 30 year old son, who has serious medical problems.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond said the offence was of “serious concern” given McNicol had previously been disqualified for drink driving offences.

But taking into account the relatively low reading and his personal circumstances, the sheriff said she would “go against my instinct” and impose a sentence of 10 penalty points and a £650 fine.