Court / Drink drivers lose their licences
A MAN from Lerwick who drove dangerously on the town’s Holmsgarth Road, Gremista Brae and Ladies Drive while four times over the legal limit for alcohol has been banned and fined.
Ian Masson admitted charges of drink driving and dangerous driving when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Police out on a mobile control became aware of the 38-year-old in the early hours of 15 April.
The court heard how Masson’s vehicle swerved back and forth over the centre line repeatedly and into the opposing carriageway.
Masson failed to stop when instructed to by police, and finally exited his car while it was still moving.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said phone records show that his client had tried repeatedly to call a taxi before deciding to drive.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank disqualified Masson for 12 months for the drink driving offence.
He was also banned for 12 months for driving dangerously, however both sentences will run concurrently.
Masson will only receive his licence back once he has passed the extended test of competence.
He was also fined £1,000 plus £40 victim surcharge.
Meanwhile, a man from Bixter was banned for 12 months and fined £1,000 for drink driving and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards police officers.
Liam McLaren’s vehicle came off the road just north of Kirkidale, in Walls, on 7 May.
When police arrived, it turned out that the 28-year-old was intoxicated.
At Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday McLaren, of Lingaro, Bixter, pleaded guilty to having more than three times the legal limit for alcohol in his system.
He also admitted behaving aggressively towards police officers by swearing and shouting at them, while this was aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said McLaren behaved belligerently and rudely towards police.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan described his client as someone with mental health issues where alcohol is a feature.
Allan said McLaren had lined up a number of work contracts which are now in doubt, but accepts that he has let himself down.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank fined McLaren £600 for the drink driving offence and £400 for behaving in an abusive manner. There will also be a £40 victim surcharge.
McLaren can reduce the period of disqualification by a quarter should he successfully complete the drink driver’s 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
Web: https://www.space2face.org
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
Phone: 01595 744402
Web: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075791869200
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
