A 52-year-old man from Portlethen admitted driving under the influence of drugs as he mounted a verge and collided with a car at a busy roundabout near Inverness Airport.
Kenneth McKay, of Burnside Gardens, pleaded guilty to driving his car while unfit to do so through drink or drugs on the A96 Inverness-Aberdeen road at the roundabout.
Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald fined McKay £600 and banned him from driving for 14 months.
His defence solicitor, Rory Gowans, stressed that his client had a liver transplant about 10 years ago which resulted in fatigue and a need for daily medication, and had attempted to self medicate with a legal high.
Blood samples taken following the incident showed traces of methylmethcathinone, which is now a class B drug, as well as some amphetamine.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel told Inverness Sheriff Court that McKay was driving erratically along the road during a busy period at about 3.15pm on May 19 last year.
Mr Carvel said that a witness who has just parked their car saw about half of McKay’s car mount the nearside verge and then go straight through the roundabout before striking the back of their car.
Mr Carvel added: “The accused got out and apologised and police attended and dealt with the accused and went through standard procedures.”
Mr Gowans added that his client was a field service engineer and regularly travelled for his job, but stressed he will “pay a heavy price” as he stands to lose his job.