Two drivers have been banned from the roads for life after being caught behind the wheel while under the influence.
In unrelated two cases, Donald Fraser, 57, received a lifetime ban for drink-driving, while Calum Findlay, 55, was disqualified for life for a series of drug-driving offences.
Fraser appeared for sentencing at Inverness Sheriff Court having previously admitted a charge of drink-driving.
Fiscal depute Shay Treanor told the court that at 8pm on August 12 last year Fraser was spotted hitting the kerb as he attempted to park his car, before climbing from the vehicle and appearing unsteady on his feet.
A taxi arrived for him a short time later but refused to pick him up.
“He was unable to walk in a straight line,” Mr Treanor told the court.
Police were called and shown CCTV footage of Fraser behind the wheel.
He was later traced and subsequent testing revealed him to have a breath alcohol level of 128 microgrammes per 100 millilitres – more than five times the legal limit of 22 microgrammes.
Driver’s record demanded ‘significant’ punishment
Solicitor Marc Dickson told the court that his client had consumed alcohol in the time between when he was spotted driving and when police caught up with him, but conceded he had been drink-driving.
He said: “He is a vulnerable individual, someone with a long history of life difficulties – life difficulties caused a relapse of his alcoholism, which he had been coping with.”
Sheriff Gary Aitken said: “Given the reading and his record there needs to be something of a significant punitive nature.”
Banning Fraser, of Urchal Park, Stratton, from driving for life, he said: “You are very close to the point where regardless of your life difficulties a custodial sentence will become inevitable.
“I trust that this will be the last time you are behind the wheel of a car.”
He placed him on a community payback order which requires him to complete 240 hours of unpaid work as well as complete programmes that will address his offending behaviour.
‘Depressingly familiar’ charges
Calum Findlay faced sentencing on two previously admitted drug-driving charges and three more he admitted at the hearing.
The charges detailed how he had tested positive for excess cocaine on one occasion and its metabolite Benzoylecgonine on others when he was stopped on various roads near his Muir of Ord home.
On one occasion he had a Benzoylecgonine level of at least 800 microgrammes in a litre of blood – the legal limit being 50 microgrammes.
Solicitor Graham Mann, for Findlay, told the court his client had “relationship issues, drug issues, mental health, all overlapping”.
Sheriff Aitken told Findlay, of Broomhill Road, Muir of Ord, that the latest charges were “depressingly familiar”.
He said: “You are simply not to be trusted near a car.”
Sheriff Aitken banned Findlay from driving for life and placed him on a community payback order with 300 hours of unpaid work in the community.