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.

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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.