Inverness man 'exceptionally close' to being sent to prison after being convicted of roads offences

A man admitted driving off in his mum's vehicle while he was over the limit.

Brandon Byth (23), of Mackintosh Road, Inverness, also admitted a list of previous convictions and pleaded guilty to driving with 70mcgs of alcohol. The limit is 22mcgs.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard Byth had been drinking with a friend on January 25 and phoned his mother to pick him up.

But after returning home he continued to drink and said he was going out for some fresh air.

However fiscal depute Karen Poke said his mother was concerned when he did not return after 25 minutes and, when she went outside, her car was gone.

Ms Poke said Byth went to the home of an ex-partner and was then involved in a collision in Benbecula Place, Inverness, after leaving there.

Police were called and he said “no comment” when asked to identify the driver.

Sheriff Gary Aitken sentenced Byth to 120 hours unpaid work, banned him from driving for 14 months and placed him under two years of social work supervision.

He told him: “You are exceptionally close to the point where a jail sentence will be imposed.”

Byth, who is already on a community payback order, also admitted taking and driving away his mother’s car, failing to provide details to the police regarding the identity of the driver and driving without a full licence.