A mechanic has been banned from the road after making a “stupid” spur-of-the-moment decision to drive home after an evening in the pub.
Aaron Simmonds had planned to walk home following an evening of drinking and socialising in the bar in Inverurie.
But, having consumed so much alcohol he was more than three times the legal limit, the 27-year-old chose to drive home instead.
His erratic driving quickly drew the attention of police officers and the father-of-one was arrested.
Fiscal depute David Rogers told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened around 1am on April 8 on Upperboat Road in Inverurie.
‘His intention was to walk home’
Police officers were on patrol when they spotted Simmonds’ car pull out of a junction “abruptly” before slowing down and coming to a complete stop.
The officers approached and found Simmonds to be slurring his words as well as smelling of alcohol.
Mr Rogers added: “He did not make much sense when talking to them.”
After failing a roadside breath test he was arrested.
Simmonds, of Saphock Place, Inverurie, pled guilty to driving with 76 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.
‘You yourself accept this was a stupid decision’
Defence agent Paul Barnett described his client as “a hardworking young man in full-time employment as a mechanic”.
He went on: “This seems to be very much out of character.
“He explains on the evening in question there had been drinking at a licensed premises in Inverurie.
“His car had been parked around the corner and his intention was to walk home.
“Unfortunately, having left the pub, he made a stupid decision, he accepts, to drive the car home on the spur of the moment, which he very much regrets.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston told Simmonds: “You yourself accept this was a stupid decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol.”
She fined him £420 and banned him from driving for a year.
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