Drive home costs pensioner licence

A PENSIONER from Lerwick who took to the wheel while narrowly over the drink-driving limit has been banned from the road for one year and fined £500.

Robert Simpson, of Breiwick Road, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to driving a car on the town’s Breiwick Road and Church Road on 11 March with 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The limit is 22 microgrammes.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 67 year old was seen leaving a “local hostelry” by a member of the public before getting into a car.

The passer-by thought that Simpson was drunk and called the police, who later attended his home address.

He failed a screening test, was arrested and then taken to Lerwick Police Station.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had health issues which caused mobility problems, suggesting this may have led the member of the public into believing Simpson was drunk.

He said the distance driven was a couple of hundred yards, but that was “no excuse”.

The solicitor said it was his client’s position that he drunk alcohol earlier in the day and added that his drink count was around that of the old limit before the law became more stringent in 2014.

Allan said Simpson, who had a clean driving licence for 50 years, felt okay to drive and would have usually gone in a taxi.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said Simpson could reduce his driving ban by one quarter if he completes a drink-driving rehab course.