Drove the morning after

DRIVING to work the morning after drinking has seen a man from Lerwick lose his licence for 12 months.

Paul Johnson, of Sandveien, was disqualified from driving for one year and fined £500 at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday after admitting driving a van while over the limit at the town’s South Lochside on 1 November.

The 55 year old had 49 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml breath. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police went on patrol after receiving intelligence about Johnson and stopped him at 8.30am.

He failed a roadside screening test and was arrested before being taken to Lerwick Police Station.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client disputed the “contention” that he acted like this regularly.

He went on to say that Johnson had been on a night out – “not a big one” – and had thought he would only have to drive later the next day.

But he was called into work earlier than anticipated and thought he would be okay to drive, with the store manager “surprised” by his count.

Sheriff Philip Mann warned Johnson that the safe option is to avoid alcohol if you have to drive the day after a night out.

Johnson can reduce his ban by three months if he completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course.