Six-year driving ban after failing to give blood sample

A MAN from Lerwick who overturned his car in Cunningsburgh after driving at an excessive speed before refusing to give a blood sample to police has been disqualified from driving for six years.

Dan Inkster, of Lyndhurst Place, was also fined a total of £1,800, placed under supervision for one year and put on a curfew for six months when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

The 30 year old previously admitted a charge of careless driving, which took place on 5 March on the A970 at Mail in Cunningsburgh.

He pled guilty to driving at an excessive speed such that he was unable to control his car after executing an overtake manoeuvre, with the vehicle then colliding with a roadside barrier and overturning before coming to rest in the middle of the carriageway.

Inkster also admitted failing to provide a specimen of blood, which had been requested by police to ascertain his levels of alcohol, at the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick on the same day.

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At the court on Wednesday, procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Inkster was driving at around 3am when he lost control of his vehicle and overturned.

A nearby motorist attended to help and detected a “strong smell of alcohol” on his breath.

They managed to get him into a passing taxi to take him to hospital, and by the time police and ambulance service arrived he was on en route to Lerwick.

Mackenzie said that Inkster had the “wit” to deny to police that he had been driving, which he used as his reason to refuse to give a blood sample at hospital.

Defence agent William McKay said his client had been celebrating a friend’s birthday. The solicitor added that Inkster later said he was concussed in the crash, and is now “very unhappy” about his behaviour on the night.

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McKay said it was the third time his client has been at court for a drink driving-related offence. The defence agent pointed to personal issues which may explain why he “drinks inappropriately”.

Sheriff Philip Mann said that the offence, taken with Inkster’s past record, “amply merited” a custodial sentence.

But the sheriff said he could only impose prison time on someone who has never been to custody before if it was the only possible sentence, and he was persuaded by a social work report to place him on a community payback order instead.