A five-times-the-limit drink-driver who was spotted swerving on the A9 has been banned from the roads for 21 months.
Gordon Hearn, 66, left his indicator on for several miles drawing the attention of another motorist, who then saw him appear to swerve in the road.
Police tracked him down at his Inverness home and subsequent testing revealed his breath alcohol to be more than five times the legal limit
Hearn appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit a single charge of drink-driving in relation to the incident on November 17 of last year.
Fiscal depute Emily Hood told the court that Hearn’s vehicle was spotted with indicators on by a witness driving towards the Kessock Bridge on the A9.
Witness spotted ‘swerving’ car
“The vehicle appeared to be swerving,” Ms Hood said.
The witness then contacted police because “he believed the driver might be under the influence”.
Officers traced Mr Hearn to his home address, where he was found to be “swaying” on his feet.
A breath test proved positive and further testing revealed his blood alcohol level to be 120 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 22.
Driver’s ‘dizzy spells’
Solicitor Marc Dickson told the court that his client was suffering from a medical condition that caused “debilitating dizzy spells” at the time of the offence, which could go some way to explaining the manner of his driving.
Hearn’s driving licence has since been medically revoked.
Mr Dickson said the behaviour was “clearly out of character” for Hearn and added: “He wants to take this opportunity to apologise for all that has taken place.”
Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald told Hearn, of Gordonville Road, Inverness: “You have pled guilty to driving whilst over five times the drink-drive limit – that is a significant alcohol reading.
“It is exceptionally dangerous to get behind the wheel of a vehicle when you are under the influence of alcohol but even more so when you are five times the limit.”
She banned him from the roads for 21 months and issued a fine of £715.