West Side drink driver may be jailed

An East Burrafirth man was warned he could be facing a custodial sentence when he admitted a drink driving charge at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

John Tait, 60, was caught on an unclassified road at the weekend with 51 microgrammes of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Police had received information that Tait had been regularly driving while under the influence. They found him at his home at around 10am on Saturday. He had been to his local shop to buy alcohol and was taken into custody until today’s court appearance.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Tait suffered from a “significant alcohol problem” and had been treated for alcohol withdrawal during his time in custody.

“He refuses to accept either that he has a problem or the extent of that problem,” Mr MacKenzie said.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the semi-retired merchant seaman had been drinking the night before and thought he would be okay to get behind the wheel.

Sheriff Graeme Napier was not thrilled to see Tait in the dock. He said he was considering whether a financial penalty was sufficient to deal with him.

Disqualifying him in the meantime, the sherrif deferred sentence until 19th October for background reports. “You are a danger to the public and it is highly likely I will consider disqualifying you for life,” he said.

The sheriff said he would also consider whether Tait’s car should be forfeited.