A north-east offshore worker is facing unemployment after attempting to dodge a drink driving conviction.
Kevin McAndrew had been out drinking with his parents at a birthday party on May 12 this year and Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard he’d planned to taxi home.
Instead, the 39-year-old jumped back behind the wheel of his Ford Focus and set off for home.
He was picked up by police on Aberdeen’s Golf Road at 12.15 the following morning and asked to provide his details.
That simple request was met with silence as McAndrew refused to identify himself to Police Constable Jodi Young and he was taken to Kittybrewster police station.
His failure to cooperate with officers did not end there, however, as nearly two hours later he refused to give a breath sample to ascertain whether he had been driving while over the legal limit.
Appearing in the dock yesterday, the offshore technician confessed to the two offences.
The court heard he had committed a similar offence in 2015.
Representing McAndrew, of Keppleshills Road in Bucksburn, defence agent Ian Woodward-Nutt revealed the devastating consequences the conviction would have for his client.
He said: “He works as a technician for an offshore oil company. That job requires him to drive himself to locations.
“He understands the inevitable consequence of this conviction will be that he will lose his job.
“Because he will lose his employment I would ask for him to be able to pay a fine in relatively small installments.”
He added that his client remembered nothing of his dealings with the police.
Mr Woodward-Nutt asked Sheriff Colin Dunipace to bring the matter to a close by imposing a fine and a disqualifying his client.
The sheriff, however, said the previous conviction gave him cause for concern.
“On the last occasion you were fined £1,000. Within three years you have committed an analogous offence.
“I am not in a position to deal with this now. I need to get reports.”
McAndrew will return to court next month for sentencing.
