Ban for drink driver whose car flipped several times

Two drink drivers were banned from the road and ordered to pay hefty fines when they appeared separately at Lerwick Sheriff Court.

John Goodlad, 25, of North Roe was disqualified for four years and told to stump up £950.

He lost control of his car in Brae shortly after 10pm on 28th July. The vehicle flipped several times before coming to rest in a ditch.

Appearing in court today Goodlad admitted driving at more than twice the legal limit, with 178 milligrammes of alcohol in his blood.
Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said the blood sample was taken two hours after the incident occurred.

Defence agent Chris Dowle said Goodlad had no recollection of what happened before or after the accident.

He said the incident had been a wake-up call for Goodlad. Prior to the accident, Goodlad had been taking steps to address his drinking. But since the crash he had stopped drinking altogether.

Mr Dowle added Goodlad still suffered from ringing in his ear and memory loss as a result of a head injury sustained during the accident.
He said the plant operator, who works on construction sites, had been working seven days a week. He would have to rely on his partner to give him lifts to and from his work.

“The loss of his licence will have a major impact on his life from now on,” said Mr Dowle, adding Goodlad was in “a penitent state”.

Sheriff Philip Mann told Goodlad: “This case demonstrates exactly what happens when people drink and drive. Driving with this level of alcohol in your system clearly poses a significant risk to the public, and you are fortunate that no-one else was involved in the accident which occurred on this occasion.”

In another case, Kevin Moreland, 39, of Lerwick’s Montfield was banned from driving for three years and fined £600.

He pleaded guilty to driving in the town’s Burgh Road with 92 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood on 17th August.

The court heard Moreland had had nothing to eat, before having a couple of drinks at a function he was attending. He co-operated fully with police when they stopped him shortly before 11pm.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Moreland was surprised by the level of the count, although that was something he would have to “take on the chin”.

Sheriff Mann said he would restrict the ban to three years. Moreland can reduce that by nine months if he completes the rehabilitation course.