HGV car transporter driver nearly five times drink-drive limit when stopped on the A9 at Bogbain, Inverness Sheriff Court hears
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THE driver of a car transporter lorry was nearly five times the legal drink-drive limit as he travelled down the A9 after leaving a garage in Inverness.
Sheriff Mark Stewart told Derek Lightfoot he was deferring sentence for background reports to see if he had an underlying problem with alcohol.
Lightfoot (50), of Alders Edge, Carlisle, appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court on Tuesday having been stopped by police on the A9 at Bogbain at the wheel of the articulated lorry on Monday afternoon.
Depute fiscal Susan Love told the court about 2.30pm a witness was working in a Mercedes Benz garage in Inverness when Lightfoot arrived and unloaded his vehicle.
The witness smelled alcohol on Lightfoot’s breath, his eyes were glazed and he was unsteady on his feet.
Police were called and Lightfoot’s transporter was traced and stopped on the A9 at Bogbain.
On opening the driver’s cab door police smelled alcohol. He failed a roadside breath test and later at Burnett Road police station produced a reading of 107mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mcg.
Lightfoot admitted the February 25 offence.
Sheriff Stewart said Lightfoot was driving an articulated lorry which could weigh up to 40 tons.
“It was unloaded – nonetheless he was five times over the limit.”
He said the court took this as a very serious incident.
“I’m calling for a social work report because I want to understand why someone like you is committing an offence like this. I want to understand if you have a problem with alcohol.”
He imposed an interim ban. Lightfoot will be sentenced on March 19.
