A man who drove to a Far North police station to collect his dog ended up being asked to take a drink-drive test.
Unemployed Michael Cannop, 39, refused and was charged with failing to provide a sample of urine for analysis, Wick Sheriff Court heard yesterday.
He was banned from driving for a year and ordered to carry out 90 hours unpaid work in the community.
The offence occurred on August 31 after he went to Thurso police station to pick up his pet.
Fiscal David Barclay described the case as “somewhat unusual” and went on: “The accused’s general demeanour, coupled with the fact he had been driving, prompted officers to request a urine sample in a bid to ascertain the proportion of alcohol and his ability to drive.”
When Cannop refused, he was charged with failing to comply and pleaded guilty on September 1 when Sheriff Andrew Berry granted the fiscal’s motion to have his car impounded. Mr Barclay tabled a request for forfeiture of the vehicle, when Cannop appeared for sentence, yesterday.
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald told the court that the accused receives medication for a variety of ailments and continued: “He went to collect his dog and didn’t consider there would be any difficulty with his driving.”
Miss MacDonald added that Cannop, of 17 Claredon Place, Thurso, appreciated that he had put himself in a difficult position by not taking the test, but made the point that, had he co-operated, the sample might not have been actionable.
The solicitor invited the sheriff to “take one step back” from forfeiting the accused’s vehicle, on the basis that he needed it when work was available.
Sheriff Berry said that the problem with drivers refusing to provide a sample, was that it was impossible to gauge the level of incapacity.
He went on: “A driver who refuses to provide a blood sample could be very drunk or someone who refused to give a urine sample could be heavily under the influence of medication.”
The sheriff refrained from forfeiting Cannop’s car and suggested he should sell the vehicle and use the funds to tide himself over until his disqualification ended.
