Shetland man caught driving almost five times the alcohol limit

A driver from Clousta who was stopped by police in the early hours of the morning while almost five times the alcohol limit has been banned from the road for 20 months.

Keiran Dix, of Langara, was also fined £500 when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court this week.

The 22 year old pled guilty to driving on the A970 at Lerwick’s Gremista Road on 20 November with 100 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The limit is 22 microgrammes.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Dix had been stopped due to the manner of his driving. He failed a roadside screening test and was taken to the Lerwick police station.

Defence agent Tommy Allan showed Sheriff Philip Mann a positive reference from his client’s employer. However, he said Dix is mature enough to know that there is “no excuse” for his behaviour.

Disqualifying the 22 year old from driving, Sheriff Philip Mann said taking to the wheel after drinking can cause “catastrophic difficulties”.

The ban can be reduced by five months if Dix completes a drink-driving rehab course.