A former oil boss who lost his business due to the downturn has been banned from the road after being caught drink-driving.
John Gibson had been settling in at home to watch the Formula 1 with a few drinks on November 21, when he realised his son, who had been due to collect his grandchildren, was asleep.
The 70-year-old became agitated and hopped into his motor to head to his son’s address.
But a witness spotted him drive off and contacted police, who caught up with him and discovered he was more than three times the legal booze limit.
Fiscal depute Sean Ambrose told Aberdeen Sheriff Court a witness had noted Gibson’s “state of intoxication” and warned him that if he drove the car she would report him.
However, a short time later she saw him pulling out of the driveway and heading in the direction of Banchory.
Police were contacted.
Officers on mobile patrol responded to a report of a driver suspected to be under the influence of alcohol at 4.15pm.
Another witness spotted Gibson arrive in a communal car park and enter a flat, before officers arrived in time to see him leaving the property.
‘Foolish decision’
Officers spoke with Gibson and found the car keys in his possession. He was arrested after failing a breath test.
Gibson, of Raemoir Road, Banchory, pled guilty to driving at Ambleside Court, Hill of Banchory South, and elsewhere with 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.
Defence agent Debbie Ginniver said her client had not been expecting to drive that afternoon.
She said: “He started drinking in anticipation of relaxing and watching the Grand Prix.”
Ms Ginniver explained he had been expecting his son to collect his grandchildren, but became “agitated” after learning his son was, in fact, still asleep.
‘You could have caused a serious accident’
She added: “He made the foolish decision to get into his car and drive to his son’s address.”
The solicitor accepted Gibson had an “ongoing” issue with alcohol addiction.
She said he used to have his own business in the oil and gas industry but following the downturn lost the business and his family home.
He then “turned to alcohol as a way to cope”.
Ms Ginniver said Gibson was now engaging with support.
Sheriff Lesley Johnston told Gibson: “On the day in question you were three times over the limit and you could have caused a serious accident by your actions.”
She banned Gibson, who also has a previous drink-drive conviction from 2008, from driving for 16 months.
She also handed him 133 hours of unpaid work, an 18-month supervision order and a conduct requirement to engage with alcohol services.
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