A Peterhead man was caught driving while under the influence of a legal high, Wick Sheriff Court was told yesterday.
Jose Santos, of 32F James Street, was banned from driving for a year and ordered to carry out 70 hours unpaid work in the community after he admitted a charge of driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
The court heard that police investigating a road traffic incident on the A99 near Lybster on September 15 last year, concluded that Santos was under the influence of “something or other”.
Drink was ruled out as a breath test indicated he had no alcohol in his system.
First offender Santos, 44, said that he had taken a legal high earlier in the day, according to David Barclay, prosecuting.
Mr Barclay said that a blood test confirmed this, adding that the substance was not an illegal one.
Solicitor Sheena Mair said that a defence expert consulted stated that some users of the particular drug, methiopropamine, had reported effects 18 hours after use.
She added: “Santos now accepts that having the drug in his system could impair his ability to drive”.
Santos was said to have irregular employment at Peterhead fish market and, prior to being charged, had the prospect of securing a steady driving job.
Sheriff Andrew Berry told the accused who previously lived in the Caithness hamlet of Latheronwheel: “Presumably you have learned a very serious lesson about the use of legal highs.”