‘Dirtbike’ rider told to stay off the road

A man has been ordered to stay off the road after he admitted riding a dirtbike a short distance while over the drink driving limit.

Mark Rushby, 19, of Ladies Drive in Lerwick was on bail and uninsured when he took out his BFD machine with an alcohol count of 38 microgrammes shortly before midnight on Wednesday. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

He was arrested after being spotted riding in the Ladies Drive car park by police. They stopped him and smelled alcohol. He then failed the roadside test and was detained.

Rushby pleaded guilty to two charges when he appeared from custody in the dock yesterday before honorary sheriff Sandy Cluness.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said provisional licence-holder Rushby had been keeping the bike at the bottom of his stairs after buying it a year ago for £100.

The chain of the bike was off, but Rushby had friends round who helped him fix it.

Mr Allan said Rushby, who is subject to a community payback order, estimated he had travelled no more than the equivalent of a quarter of a football pitch.

Rushby spent the night in custody after being lifted.

Honorary sheriff Cluness deferred sentence until Wednesday. He disqualified him from driving in the meantime, and allowed him bail.