A drink-driver blamed a massive queue for taxis after he was caught driving at more than three-and-a-half times the alcohol limit.
Scott Paterson had enjoyed a night out with his partner in the city centre of Aberdeen.
The couple went for a meal and drinks, intending to leave their car in town and return home by taxi.
But when the pair arrived at the taxi rank later that evening, they faced a massive queue of more than 100 people.
Paterson’s girlfriend started to complain about a migraine headache and the 35-year-old made the “rash” decision to drive them home, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Driving ‘erratically’ at ‘excessive speed’
Fiscal depute David Rogers told the court that Paterson was stopped by police on Beach Boulevard on February 5, earlier this month.
He had been driving “erratically” and at what officers considered “excessive speed”.
The officers then noticed the smell of alcohol coming from Paterson’s vehicle and he was slurring his words.
They swiftly arrested him when he failed a roadside breath test.
Paterson, of Ashwood Park in Aberdeen, pled guilty to driving with 78mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mcg.
‘Shortage of taxis’
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said his client had no previous convictions.
“He’s mortified to find himself in court. He tells me he’d been on a night out with his girlfriend in town.
“They had something to eat and drink and joined the taxi queue, having parked the car in town to be left overnight.”
But Mr Kelly explained that there was a “shortage of taxis” with “over 100 people in the queue”.
He added: “His girlfriend was complaining of a severe migraine and he took the rash decision to drive the short distance home”.
The solicitor said Paterson, who is a sales manager, could be at risk of losing his job if he were to be handed a lengthy driving ban.
But Sheriff Ian Wallace disqualified Paterson from driving for 14 months and fined him £710.
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