Two-year ban and £800 fine for Whalsay teenager caught drink driving

A teenager who drove while almost two-and-a-half times the drink driving limit was fined £800 and disqualified for two years at Lerwick Sheriff Court.

David Williamson, 18, of Symbister in Whalsay, was caught in the early hours of Friday morning with 83 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.

Williamson was driving his father’s VW Golf along the Esplanade at 2.25am when he was stopped by police officers who noticed the car had a defective headlight.

Officers detected the smell of alcohol on his breath and Williamson admitted having had one drink. However when it transpired he was going to be breathalysed, he admitted consuming more than just one.

Defence agent Chris Dowle said Williamson, an electrician who works for a local firm, only intended to be on a short journey. He said traffic flow was “minimal” and there were no pedestrians in the area.

“He regrets very much his foolish behaviour,” he said.

Banning Williamson from the roads, Sheriff Graeme Napier said his disqualification could be reduced by six months if he successfully completed a drink drivers rehabilitation course.