A police inspector has warned “selfish” drink-drivers of the dangers they pose – after four appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in one morning.
Drink-drivers are a depressingly common sight in courtrooms across the country, and Aberdeen is no exception.
But on Friday, no fewer than four people appeared in the dock during the course of a single morning and admitted drink-driving.
Now, Inspector Lorraine Mackie of the road policing unit has branded drink-driving a “selfish” crime and warned of the risks drivers take in committing such offences.
She said: “We are seeing too much of it. One drink-driver is too many in my view.
“The drink-driving legislation has been in for quite a long time now so it’s really quite shocking that people flout it.
“Why they do it, I don’t know, but we do still see it in crashes we attend, unfortunately.”
Insp Mackie continued: “Drink or drug-driving is against the law and can result in the unnecessary, tragic loss of life or horrific life-changing injuries to not only the drivers but any other road users.
“Often it’s not the driver that’s injured, it’s often someone perfectly innocent that ends up with life-changing injuries.
“It’s really selfish and there’s no real justification for it in this day and age with good transport links, taxis and plenty of other options if people plan ahead.
“We remain committed to tackling this offending and will continue to focus on detecting drivers who flout the law without a care for the public safety of others.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and the information we receive, anonymously or otherwise, greatly assists us in being able to identify and detect offenders in an effort to keep our north-east roads safe.”
Drink-drivers in dock
At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Margaret Mair, 63, admitted driving with 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath at the Tesco car park on Deveron Road, Huntly, at 10.30pm on February 22.
The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.
Shop staff had noted Mair seemed drunk and pointed her out to officers, stating: “I hope that lady’s not driving.”
Officers found her in her car with the engine running and immediately smelled alcohol on her.
Defence agent Liam Mcallister said his client normally resides in Merseyside but was in the north-east caring for her elderly mother.
She had drunk between half and three-quarters of a bottle of wine.
He said the first offender had only driven a short distance, adding she was “frustrated and ashamed” of the offence.
Sheriff Graham Buchanan fined Mair, of St Austell Close, Moreton, £520 and disqualified her for a year.
Gas engineer banned from road
Kyle Stewart, 29, also appeared in the dock and admitted driving with 77 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath at 1.45am on February 19.
Police spotted his grey Volkswagon Polo on North Anderson Drive and stopped it due to a faulty headlamp.
But on speaking to Stewart, who had two passengers in the car, they noted he was slurring his speech and smelled of drink.
He was arrested after failing a breath test.
Defence agent Donna Seivewright said her client, a self-employed gas engineer, had never been in trouble before.
She said the father-of-two had been at a wedding at Maryculter House Hotel and had “stupidly” decided to drive after being unable to get a room or a taxi.
Sheriff Buchanan fined Stewart, of Gowanlea Drive, Slamannan, £320 and banned him for a year.
Gymnast thought she’d be safe to drive
Meanwhile, gymnastics coach Khushi Kohli, 20, admitted driving with 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath at Froghall Gardens, Aberdeen, in the early hours of February 17.
Fiscal depute Sean Ambrose told the court police stopped Kohli’s white Mini Cooper “due to the manner of its driving”.
Officers they noticed a smell of alcohol and the 20-year-old failed a breath test.
Defence agent Ms Seivewright said the first offender had been drinking with friends sometime earlier and had thought she’d be okay to drive.
She added: “This was a silly mistake and she’d deeply ashamed.”
Sheriff Buchanan fined Kohli, of Home Farm Gardens, Aberdeen, £360 and disqualified her for a year.
Man drove to shop for cigarettes after drinking wine and beer
Next to appear was Marcin Kuna, who admitted driving with 41 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath on the B9077 near Hilldown Business Centre, Aberdeen, on February 23.
Mr Ambrose told the court staff at Ardoe House Hotel, where Kuna, 31, had been staying, alerted police that he’d driven off at 12.20am after drinking in the bar.
Officers quickly traced him, noted a strong smell of alcohol and arrested him on failing a breath test.
Defence solicitor Gregor Kelly said his client was “highly educated” and had set up a marketing business with a colleague.
Mr Kelly said Kuna had had a glass of wine with dinner and then one beer in the hotel bar with his colleague, who had been sampling the whiskies and had had far more to drink.
He said the colleague asked Kuna to drive to a shop to buy him cigarettes.
Sheriff Buchanan fined Kuna, of The Heywoods, Chester, £840 and disqualified him for 12 months.
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