An oil and gas consultant began drinking because he felt “lonely” as he waited for his wife to fly home – despite being due to pick her up.
Former Army man Alan Todd was nearly four-times the drink-drive limit when he set off to collect her from the airport.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that the 50-year-old had checked the flight tracker and believed the flight from Russia was going to be delayed or cancelled, so started drinking.
However, he was then “surprised” by a message saying she had landed and decided to go and meet her.
Todd yesterday admitted the drink-driving charge.
Fiscal depute Gavin Ledford said police were called after his car was seen driving in an “erratic manner” on Main Road in Blackburn on July 27.
Todd, of Scotsmill Avenue, Blackburn, was taken to the nearest police station. A breath test showed he had 85 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22mcg.
Defence solicitor Gregor Kelly told the court his client had been in the military for 14 years and was a “distinguished” veteran, having served in Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia.
He added the father-of-two also suffers from PTSD.
Mr Kelly said Todd had checked the flight tracker and thought his wife’s flight was going to be cancelled.
He added: “He was at home feeling lonely and anxious and he had a number of drinks on his own.
“He was then surprised to see a message from his wife asking to go pick her up from the airport.
“It is unfortunate for this 50-year-old man with an unblemished record.
“He feels he has let himself down greatly.”
Sheriff Ian Wallace fined Todd £800 and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.
