Drunk Norwegian offshore worker fined and banned

When Norwegian offshore worker Rolf Jenson arrived in Shetland through his work he took the chance to go drinking the evening before he was due to catch a flight.

But in Wednesday’s early hours he found himself drunk and wandering, and eager to get to Sumburgh Airport.

He got into an unlocked car parked in Holmsgarth Brae and pressed an ignition button, which activated a security alarm.

When the owner came out of his house and asked him what he was doing, he said he was Rolf, and he was going to Sumburgh.

The police were called and Jenson was found to be more than double the drink driving rate.

Appearing from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court today, Jenson, 31, of Silsand in Norway, admitted attempting to drive with 91 microgrammes of alcohol in his system – the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

The court heard Jenson had been due to be picked up from a hotel to catch a lift. But he had drunk too much and became lost in a strange town.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the offshore surveyor had initially been en route to Mexico when he was redirected to a vessel off Shetland.

His company operates a strict zero tolerance attitude to alcohol, and he had “let himself go” while ashore and off duty in the town.

He had co-operated fully with the police and had been in custody since early Wednesday morning.

Sheriff Philip Mann disqualified him from driving for 12 months and fined him £500.

“This is a very unfortunate situation you have found yourself in, but I’ve no doubt it’s one of your own making.”