Crashed while over the limit

A TEENAGER who crashed his car after he had been drinking has been banned from the road for 12 months and has been reminded that his accident “could have been so much worse”.

Gavin Hamilton, of Mid Lea, Mossbank, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to driving with 92 milligrammes of alcohol in 100ml of blood on 5 November near to the entrance of Scatsta Airport. The legal limit is 50 milligrammes.

He also pleaded guilty to driving the car without a valid insurance policy.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the offence came to light when the 18 year old crashed and overturned his car.

Two other people who were passengers in the vehicle sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital.

Mackenzie said the crash happened at 6.20pm, but it was only around four hours later that a blood sample was taken by police.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client’s position was that he had been drinking “much earlier in the day” and felt okay to drive.

When the accident happened, Hamilton “regretted it instantly” and appreciated how lucky it was that no serious injuries were sustained.

Sheriff Philip Mann reminded Hamilton of the dangers of drink driving and disqualified him as well as giving him £700 in fines.

“It could have been so much worse,” he said. “You might have been facing much more serious charges.”

Hamilton can reduce his ban by one quarter if he completes a drink driving rehab course.