Court / Man fined £1.2k for drug-driving offences
A MAN from Northern Ireland who was found over the drug-driving limit in Lerwick has been fined £1,200.
Martin McParland, of Callan St, Armagh, was also disqualified from driving for three years when he appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court via videolink.
He admitted driving over the limit for cocaine and benzoylecgonine on Lerwick’s Ladies Drive on 10 April 2022.
The reading for cocaine was 26 microgrammes per litre of blood, with the limit being 10.
The reading for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, was 480 microgrammes per litre of blood, with the limit for that being 50.
The court heard that benzoylecgonine can be the product of earlier cocaine consumption.
The 39-year-old also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified on the same date at the same location.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the offence came to light when police officers stopped McParland regarding a routine road traffic matter at around 12.45am.
“It became clear that he was technically disqualified from driving,” Mackenzie added, highlighting that he was banned in 2014 but had not re-sat the required driving test.
McPartland also failed a roadside test for drug-driving and was arrested and taken to Lerwick Police Station.
Defence agent Ms Nicol said her client was appearing in court in Stranraer on Friday (2 May) after being arrested on warrant.
She said McPartland had spent three days in custody, which had been a “salutary experience” for him.
Nicol conceded that her client had been given chances to appear in court before on the Lerwick offence but not taken them, citing struggles in his personal life.
Honorary sheriff Willie Shannon fined McPartland a total of £1,200 for the two drug driving offences.
Because his previous conviction which resulted in his prior disqualification in 2014 was within a decade of the Lerwick offence, he was also banned from driving for three years.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
