Court / Big fine and ban for drink driver
A MAN from Lerwick has been given a £1,000 fine after driving while more than three times the alcohol limit.
Andrew Smith, of South Road, was also disqualified from driving for three years.
The weight of his sentence reflected that he had a previous conviction for a similar matter.
The 23-year-old appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to admit driving with 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath near Scalloway on 22 December.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the incident occurred at around 2am, with a member of public noticing the manner of his driving.
She ended up getting out and speaking to Smith, who was “clearly very drunk”. The police were alerted, with the driver arrested after failing a roadside screening test.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said the trainee chef had been drinking earlier and “stupidly” took to his car to get home as no taxis were available.
He said Smith did not think he would have been that far over the limit.
Allan added that his client cooperated fully with not only the member of the public but the police too.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said: “It’s not the lowest of readings and furthermore you have a previous analogous conviction, so that carries certain consequences.”
On top of a £1,000 fine Smith was told to pay a £75 victim surcharge fee.
His three year disqualification can be reduced by one quarter if Smith completes a drink driver rehabilitation course.
If you have been affected by crime, help is available. Whether you are victim, a witness, or the accused, you can find independent, impartial, and confidential support in Shetland.
For victims of general crime:
Victim Support Shetland
Phone: 01595744524 or 0800 1601985
Web: https://victimsupport.scot/locations/victim-support-shetland/
Email: VictimSupportHighlandsIslands@victimsupportsco.org.uk
For anyone affected by crime & harm seeking a restorative approach:
Space2face
Phone: 07564 832467
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Email: info@space2face.org
For anyone affected by gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual assault, and rape:
Shetland Women’s Aid
Phone: 01595 692070
Web: https://www.shetlandwa.org
Email: office@shetlandwa.org
The Compass Centre (Shetland Rape Crisis)
Phone: 01595 744402 or 08088 010302
Web: https://www.compasscentre.org
Email: contact@compasscentre.org
For anyone affected by substance use:
Shetland Recovery Hub and Community Network
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Email: recoveryhub@shetland.gov.uk
Shetland Alcohol & Drug Partnership
Phone: 01595 743060 or 07342 077789
Web: https://shetlandadp.org.uk
Email: shet.sadp@nhs.scot
Substance Use Recovery Service
Phone: 01595 743006
