A former naval surveyor who was caught driving massively over the limit twice in the space of just three days has had his car seized and been banned from the road.
Richard McAuliffe was first caught driving at almost six times the legal limit before police charged him again just two days later, this time at an even higher level.
Both times the 44-year-old was reported to police by concerned members of the public, who saw him buying alcohol from an off-licence in Inverbervie and then getting back into his car.
Police traced the father-of-two back at his Inverbervie home both times and noted he was unsteady on his feet and smelling of alcohol.
Caught twice in three days
Fiscal depute Adam McMann told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that McAuliffe was first caught at 10.10am on August 11 last year and found to have a breathalyser reading of 130mg, the legal limit being 22.
Just two days later he was caught again, this time at 11.30am and gave a reading of 161mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – more than seven times the limit.
McAuliffe admitted two charges of drink-driving plus driving without insurance.
Defence agent Ross Taggart said his client had turned to the bottle after the breakdown of his marriage three years ago but had drastically reduced his intake since being caught.
Was drinking a lot of vodka
“Ths situation is he was drinking two to three bottles of vodka a week, but since his appearance in court he has managed to reduce that to two to three bottles of cider at weekends,” he said.
“He realises the seriousness of his position, particularly as he committed the second offence so quickly after the first.
“However he has taken active steps to reduce his drinking and hopefully he is well on the way to either stopping drinking altogether or at least keeping it to small measures.”
He added that McAuliffe, a marine surveyor in the Royal Navy until 2007, became a “househusband” upon his retiral from the forces but struggled after he and his wife separated three years ago.
“He is now focused on looking after his health both mentally and physically after suffering depression and anxiety following the separation.
“He is also actively seeking work.”
Car will be seized
The Crown motion for forfeiture of McAullife’s black Kia, worth between £2,000 and £2,300, was upheld.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin also handed McAullife, of Kirkburn, Inverbervie, a 12-month supervision order and banned him from roads for 45 months.
He was deemed suitable for a drink-driver rehabilitation scheme.
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