Three year ban for drink driver

A repeat drink driver has been banned from the road for three years, fined £750 and had his van forfeited after he admitted being almost three times over the limit.

The police were called after Brian Adamson, 55, of Hamnavoe, was spotted driving away from the local regatta in Burra while drunk.

Officers reached East Voe when they spotted the salmon farmer’s Citroën Berlingo heading in the opposite direction.

Adamson admitted driving on Saturday with 62 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath when he appeared today from custody before honorary sheriff Arnold Duncan.

He had been in the cells since his arrest after failing the roadside screening test on Saturday evening.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said police were contacted by members of the public who were attending the regatta. They had become concerned that Adamson was driving the van while he was drunk.

Officers stopped Adamson as he was heading to Scalloway from Trondra.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Adamson was pleading guilty at the first opportunity.

He said Adamson had been in custody since Saturday, giving him plenty of time to consider what had happened.

“He appreciates that this is perhaps indicative of some underlying issue that needs help.”

The court heard the van was mainly used for crofting duties in Burra and in Cunningsburgh.

Honorary Sheriff Arnold Duncan banned Adamson for the minimum three year period.

But Mr MacKenzie questioned why Mr Duncan initially decided against granting a Crown motion for the van, said to be worth £400, to be forfeited.

In reply, Mr Duncan said it was a question of value.

But the fiscal retorted: “Is the court saying that vehicles below a certain value are not worthy of forfeiture?”

Mr Duncan relented, and said he would grant forfeiture after all. But he reduced the fine from £1,000 instead.