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Inverness court hears driver was almost five times the limit while driving on the A9


By Ali Morrison

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Sheriff Sara Matheson.
Sheriff Sara Matheson.

Police who intercepted a car transporter on the A9 discovered the driver was almost five times the drink-drive limit.

Officers also found a pack of lager in 50-year-old Dean Lightfoot’s cab with three cans missing when they stopped him on the A9 just outside Inverness.

Lightfoot, from Alders Edge, Carlisle, had driven north from his base with a load of luxury cars which he dropped off at the Mercedes-Benz garage in Inverness on February 24.

But staff there smelt alcohol on his breath, reported Lightfoot to police and his transporter was stopped near Bogbain Farm.

A breath test revealed he was five times the legal limit.

He appeared from custody the following day and admitted driving with 107mcgs of alcohol in his breath on February 24 near Bogbain Farm. The limit is 22mcgs.

His not guilty plea to a dangerous driving charge by failing to adjust his driving for the weather conditions and keep control of the vehicle, causing it to cross the carriageway, was accepted.

Sentence was deferred for a background report until last Thursday.

He escaped a jail sentence after Sheriff Sara Matheson ordered him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for 14 months.

She told him: “Because of the nature of your vehicle, and the location on a main road, you could have caused many deaths by being five times the legal limit.

“But you have not had your troubles to seek in the recent past and given that you have no record, I can deal with this by a sentence in the community.”

Defence solicitor Laura-Jane McFarlane said her client was “deeply ashamed” and added: “He is fully aware of the severe consequences there could have been.

“He will lose his job and is now suffering from depression and anxiety.”

Fiscal depute Victoria Ferguson told Inverness Sheriff Court that Lightfoot had unloaded his HGV articulated lorry at the Mercedes-Benz garage on the Longman Industrial Estate a short time before he was stopped.

A member of staff smelt alcohol on his breath, noticed he had glazed eyes and was unsteady on his feet.

Police were informed but Lightfoot had left the premises and mobile patrols were instructed to keep a look out for him.

He was traced about three miles away.

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