INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT: Offshore worker caught drink-driving home from a funeral in Inverness
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An offshore worker has been handed a £1200 fine and disqualified from driving for 16 months after drink-driving home from a funeral while nearly five times the legal limit.
Donald Thomson (48) had intended to get a taxi back from the wake but there was no room in it due to other guests.
So instead he hopped behind the wheel of his car and tried to drive home.
He was stopped by police in Lawers Way on June 6.
He was found to have nearly 96 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 22mg.
Fiscal depute Emma MacEwan told Inverness Sheriff Court: “It was approximately 5pm.
“Police were driving along and the vehicle was stopped by blue lights.
“The accused appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.”
Defence agent Rory Gowans said: “Mr Thomson had been at a funeral.
“It seems at the end of the wake there was a taxi booked to take them elsewhere but there was no room for him and he made the foolish error to take his car back to the house.”
Thomson, of Balnafettack Crescent, was told he could attend a drink-driver rehabilitation course.