Drink driver was on way home from pub

A Lerwick man who drove at three times the legal alcohol limit has been banned for 20 months.

Mark Odie, 42, was also fined £600 when he appeared from custody today before sheriff Philip Mann.

Odie, of the town’s St Sunniva Street, admitted driving his brother-in-law’s car with 105 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

The fish worker was stopped by police shortly after 2am on Sunday morning as he drove home from the pub.

Odie was kept in custody until his court appearance.

Sheriff Mann warned Odie: “You were three times over the limit so you must have been seriously intoxicated, and that presents a significant risk to the public.”

Odie’s ban was reduced from 30 months to reflect the early plea. He can cut the term of his disqualification by a further five months if he completes the drink drivers’ rehabilitation course. His fine was also reduced from £900.

In a separate case before the sheriff today a man has been released on bail after allegedly assaulting a woman at a house in Lerwick.

Trevor Couper pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared from custody.

Couper, 21, of Cairnfield Road, denied repeatedly punching the woman on the body at an address in Sandveien on Sunday.

Trial was fixed for 15th October, with an intermediate diet on 18th September.

However, Couper was released with the added special condition that he does not contact the alleged victim. He was also warned not to be under the influence of alcohol in public, and to give a breath sample to police when required.