Drug-driving results in ban and fine

AN EIGHTEEN year old man from Lerwick has been banned from the road for a year and fined £300 for drug-driving.

John Macleod, of Market Street, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to admit driving with more Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol – a chemical in cannabis – in his blood than is legally allowed.

The incident happened in Scalloway on 23 April last year. He had four microgrammes of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood, with the limit being two.

Macleod also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and the Class A psychedelic substance psilocin.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Macleod was stopped at around 1.30am due the manner of his driving, and there were concerns over his demeanour.

The court heard that Macleod cooperated fully with the following procedures carried out the police.

Officers also found 13.5 grams of cannabis – worth around £105 – in the young man’s car, and a nominal amount of psilocin.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the student had shown a high level of honesty about the incident in a letter submitted to the court.

He added that Macleod, who had been put under some pressure to drive on the night in question, had “very much learned his lesson”.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank gave the disqualification and fine for the driving offence and admonished Macleod on the possession charges.