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Inverness pensioner gets driving ban after ‘hot toddy’ hours before getting behind the wheel





Inverness Sheriff Court is at Inverness Justice Centre.
Inverness Sheriff Court is at Inverness Justice Centre.

Drinking an early morning strong 'hot toddy' to enable a pensioner sleep cost a 71-year-old Inverness man his driving licence.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that police received a report of a possible drink-driver and were tasked to track down the vehicle.

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Fiscal depute David Morton told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank that officers stopped Marcus Morrison's car in Henderson Road on the afternoon of October 3 last year and a subsequent test revealed a reading of 72mcgs of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 22mcgs.

An insurance check revealed although the car was insured, Morrison, of Murray Road, Inverness was not named on the policy.

Morrison pleaded guilty to drink-driving and admitted a previous similar conviction from over 10 years ago. He was fined £840 and also banned from driving for 16 months. That could be reduced by four months if he successfully completes a drink-driver rehabilitation course, Morrison was told.

Defending, Marc Dickson told the sheriff that his client's wife had passed away at that time and he had difficulty sleeping.

"In the small hours he took a strong hot toddy to try and help him sleep," he said.


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