Rehab chance for Inverness driver who clocked up second conviction
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A young man who admitted a second drink driving offence has been fined £2075 and banned from driving for three years after appearing at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Thomas Woodman (23) of Drakies Avenue, appeared last Thursday and admitted driving in Drumossie Avenue on February 5 this year while four times over the legal limit for alcohol.
Fiscal depute Shay Treanor told Sheriff Gary Aitken that police were made aware he was on licensed premises and when officers stopped his car later they noticed his eyes were glazed and bloodshot.
Defence solicitor David Patterson said: “He thought he was OK to drive, but he is a man who ought to know better because of his previous conviction.”
He added that Woodman is employed with a reasonable income.
Sheriff Aitken told Woodman: “Drink-driving is a serious matter which carries significant risks to the community and to the person offending.”
He noted that Woodman has a similar previous conviction “within relatively short order” and that his alcohol reading was very high.
“You are very close to a custodial sentence,” he told him.
“You are a young man of considerable promise, don’t destroy your life with your foolish behaviour.”
Sheriff Aitken also allowed Woodman to attend a drink driving rehabilitation course which can reduce a driving ban by a quarter.
