A motorist who was caught almost three times over the drink-drive limit has been banned from driving for seven years.
Shaun Worrall, 56, has a substantial record of other similar offences and was reported to police in September last year after a member of the public suspected him of driving under the influence.
When stopped by officers in Craigellachie, he was found to have 62mg of alcohol in his breath, almost three times the legal limit of 22 mg.
Worrall, of Hill Street, Craigellachie, was given two hot toddies by a friend whose property he was staying at in Elgin before he decided to drive home.
Defence solicitor Matthew O’Neill told Elgin Sheriff Court that his client’s health concerns at the time drove him to commit this offence.
He said: “My client was not feeling well when he travelled into Elgin and consumed some beers so went to spend most of his evening at his friend’s house.
“He began to feel even more unwell and was offered hot toddies by his friend before making the decision to head home.
“He should have stayed at his friend’s house and was stopped by police close to his home address, but has fully co-operated since then.”
Sheriff Gary Aitken considered O’Neill’s mitigation, along with Worrall’s record for similar offending.
He said: “I’m sure you appreciate that with your record and that reading, a custodial sentence is the first starting point.
“However, I am prepared to offer a direct alternative to custody, but rest assured any breach will mean a custodial sentence.”
Worrall pled guilty to drink driving and was given 200 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from driving for seven years.
