Builder given heavy fine and five-year ban for drink driving

A self-employed builder who said he was relieved to have been caught drink driving was fined and banned from the road for five years at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Francis Murray, 43, of Setter, Sandwick, admitted driving on the A970 at Gulberwick with 201 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said that police had seen Murray, who has previous convictions, “weaving all over the road” at 11pm on 31st March.

He was stopped and failed a roadside screening test, was arrested and taken to the police station.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said that Murray employs two men but they could drive him so that he could keep working. Murray regretted what had happened, he said, and was glad he had been caught because his actions could have led to a tragic accident.

Sheriff Philip Mann said that Murray had been nearly three times over the limit and driving with alcohol was extremely dangerous and the public needed to be safeguarded. He fined Murray £1,200 and disqualified him for five years, to be reduced by a year if he takes a drink driving rehabilitation course.

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.