Road ban for chef who drove while more than four times the alcohol limit

A chef who drove in Lerwick while over four times the alcohol limit has been disqualified for 18 months and handed a £900 fine.

John Diamond, of Milton Brow, Weston-super-Mare, drove on the A970 road between Blackhill Industrial Estate and the Ladies Drive junction with 96 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath on October 16 last year.

He admitted the drink driving offence at Lerwick Sheriff Court yesterday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 50-year-old was stopped at around 3.15pm after a concerned member of the public tipped off the police.

He failed a roadside screening test and was arrested before being taken to Lerwick Police Station.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client, who was a relief chef working across the UK, had been drinking the night before in addition to having half a bottle of wine the following morning.

He said Diamond – whose business would be affected “considerably” with the loss of his licence – did not realise how much alcohol would have still been in his system.

Sheriff Philip Mann told Diamond he could reduce his ban by four months if he completes a drink-driver rehab course.