A respected school teacher whose car mounted the kerb was found to be over six times the alcohol limit when breath-tested more than 12 hours after his last drink.
As well as teaching technology at Mallaig High School, 57-year-old John O’Neill was also a driver of the community mini-bus.
Defence lawyer Hamish Melrose said at Fort William Sheriff Court yesterday: “Obviously, that particular activity is at an end.’
O’Neill, who was off work with an illness at the time, admitted driving in Mallaig streets on September 11 with a breath-alcohol count of 140.The legal maximum is 22.
He was locked up in police cells for the night before being released the following day.
Fiscal Ross Carvel said police became involved due to the teacher’s erratic driving,during which he mounted the kerb.
When charged, he replied,’ Sorry’.
Mr Carvel said: “He is known to police in the village and is normally of good character’.
Mr Melrose said: “Two old friends arrived out of the blue to visit Mr O’ Neill and stayed the night.They sat up drinking to 4.30am on the Sunday morning.
“Late in the afternoon my client got a call from a housebound female friend and went to see her.He felt ok to drive.”
Sheriff Bill Taylor fined the teacher, of Nevis Terrace, Mallaig, £500 and banned him from driving for a year.
He said: “It is a high reading.”
