Grieving son banned

A CARPENTER who took solace in drink after learning that his father had died before driving while four times the alcohol limit has lost his licence for one year.

Daniele Paparazzo, of Braeface, Alness, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to driving with 88 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath on the town’s South Road on 22 May.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 46 year old was stopped by police at around 1.30am due to the manner of his driving.

He failed a roadside screening test and was taken to the police station after being arrested.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client, who was working as a self-employed carpenter in Shetland, had learned that his father had died back home in Italy after a year-long illness.

A colleague had encouraged him to have a drink, but he ended up driving from the town centre to his accommodation because he was worried about the security of his tools inside his van.

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Allan said his client had been told he would lose his job as a result of the offence, which would affect his ability to send money back to his children in Italy.

Sheriff John Rafferty said that while taking into account Paparazzo’s clean driving record and the sombre circumstances, the alcohol reading was “significant”, and placed the public at risk.

He was fined £335 and disqualified from holding a driving licence for one year, which may be reduced by three months if he completes a drink-driver rehab course.