A drink-driving Moray soldier has been banned from the roads after mounting a pavement and leading police on a late night chase.
Louis Doherty, who is stationed at Kinloss Barracks, was drunk behind the wheel as he swerved around a police officer that tried to stop him in Forres town centre on October 2.
When he was spotted walking on the High Street by officers minutes later, the 22-year-old initially denied any knowledge of the car the constables were trying to trace.
But after a search, the keys for the black Saab were found in his trouser pocket with the vehicle abandoned at a nearby car park in Leys Road.
Doherty, who lives in Kinloss, pleaded guilty to the offences when he appeared in the dock at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday.
Fiscal Alex Swain told the court officers had seen him drinking in the Mosset Tavern on Saturday, October 1 last year.
Shortly before 1.30am the soldier was seen on CCTV getting into the driver’s seat.
Miss Swain said: “Police officers in a marked car were told the accused had entered his Saab before carrying out a U-turn, which resulted in him mounting the pavement and driving along the High Street.
“At this point police officers on foot-patrol saw the accused’s car driving toward them. A constable wearing high-visibility clothing stepped onto the High Street in front of the accused’s car and instructed him to stop by extending his arm.
“However, the accused manoeuvred around the officer before continuing along the High Street before making a sharp turn into Leys Road.”
Doherty was then seen by police walking out of a lane leading to the High Street from Leys Road.
The soldier, who was described as smelling “strongly” of alcohol, obeyed instructions from officers but when quizzed about the car denied any knowledge of it.
Doherty, who was representing himself, told Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov he would now face “sanctions” from the Army.
He added: “I was going through a rough time at home with my ex-wife. I understand what I have done isn’t right. I’m ashamed of myself.”
Doherty, of Trenchard Crescent in Kinloss, was fined £500 and banned from driving for 15 months after pleading guilty to failing to stop for a police officer when requested to do so and driving with 112mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine – the legal limit is 67mg.
