Culloden man drug drove and was nine times the safe limit

A 43-YEAR-OLD Culloden man turned to drugs after a series of events prompted a breakdown.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Kenneth Douglas, of Wallace Place, was stopped by police in his car in West Heather Road, Inverness on June 23, 2020.

Fiscal depute Ruraidh Allison said: “Due to his demeanour and that he appeared nervous, officers suspected he was under the influence of a controlled substance.”

A subsequent test revealed Douglas had more than nine times the safe driving amount of a cocaine metabolyte in his system. The reading was 467mcgs, when the limit is 50mcgs.

Douglas admitted drug-driving and was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for a year and placed under social work supervision for the same period.

Defence solicitor Marc Dickson told Sheriff Sara Matheson: “His mother had died some time previously, he had gone through a separation and he then lost his job of many years.

“He suffered a type of breakdown and drifted into drug misuse. He is now getting help from a local addictions unit.”