A 32-year-old man from Lerwick who drove while intoxicated before refusing to give samples to the police has been banned from the road for more than a year.
Magnus Thomson, of 4 Sletts Road, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to driving while unfit through drink or drugs at the Queens Place/Annsbrae Place roundabout in Lerwick on 15 December.
He also pled guilty to failing to give a blood sample at Lerwick Police Station on the same day.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Thomson collided with another car and was “clearly under the influence” and slurring speech when police arrived.
He was arrested after providing a negative breath sample and taken to the Lerwick station, but he refused a blood test by claiming he had insufficient veins. Thomson then declined a urine test.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had taken sleeping medication the day before and was unaware it would still affect his system.
He added that Thomson had an operation for a clot last year and had been taking blood-thinning tablets, making him worried about the effects of giving a sample.
Sheriff Philip Mann ruled that Thomson had “put the safety of the public at risk” by taking to the wheel and disqualified him from driving for 15 months.
He was also fined a total of £600.