A personal trainer who made the “catastrophic” decision to drink-drive after a night out has been banned from the road and handed a hefty fine.
Christopher Terry had been drinking and socialising in Inverurie and got behind the wheel when one of his friends realised she’d left her purse in a bar.
The self-employed trainer was pulled over by police at 2am after they spotted him parked on double-yellow lines.
Officers noted his “watery eyes” and boozy breath straight away, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
‘Had slurred speech and watery eyes’
Fiscal depute Emma Petersen said Terry drove off as officers turned their marked van around to approach his car on Oldmeldrum Road in Inverurie at 2am on April 16, this year.
“The vehicle was stopped thereafter and the accused was the sole occupant and driver,” the fiscal said. “Officers noted he was intoxicated.
“They smelled a strong smell of alcohol emanating from his breath, he had slurred speech and watery eyes.
“He was unsteady on his feet when he stepped out of the vehicle.”
Terry admitted a drink-drive charge and having a reading of 57mcg in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 22.
‘Horrified’ by his actions
Defence agent Liam McAllister said Terry was “horrified by this gross misjudgement on his part” and said he was “anxious and “remorseful” about his appearance in the dock.
“It is entirely out of character for him,” the solicitor said.
“I have barely seen a more anxious man than him coming into court today, nor a more remorseful man.”
Mr McAllister said his client had been socialising with his partner and friends the night in question.
He said “drink had been taken, but not to excess” and when they got home his partner’s sister realised she’d left her purse in the bar and was anxious to get it back.
Rather than call the bar, he made the decision to drive and collect the lost property.
“He made the catastrophic error of deciding to take the vehicle and drive back to get it,” Mr McAllister added.
Allowed to do rehab course
The court heard Terry had been “fully open and honest with the court” and that references from employers were available.
Sheriff Donald Ferguson told him it was an “incredibly dangerous thing to do”.
He handed Terry, of Garton Way, Inverurie, a £705 fine and banned him from the roads for 20 months.
Terry was also deemed suitable for a drink-driver rehabilitation scheme which would allow him to reduce the length of his disqualification by 25%.
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