Inverness Sheriff Court hears that drink-driver was ‘afraid of assault’ – staff at an A9 filling station called the police when they suspected the 24-year-old Cromarty man was drunk

Staff at a popular filling station on the A9 called police when they suspected a driver of being drunk.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 24-year-old Dylan Patience, of Townlands Park, Cromarty, was stopped by officers and a reading showed he was over twice the legal limit.

He admitted driving on November 26, 2020, with 49mcgs of alcohol in his system when the limit is 22mcgs.

Defence solicitor Matthew Berlow said: “This moment of madness will be quite devastating for him because he is likely to lose his job.

“He is the driver for the escort vehicle for wide loads.

“He was concerned that he was going to be assaulted or attacked and got into his car to drive away.”

He had been at the filling station at Skiach, near Evanton.

Patience was fined £580 and banned from driving for a year.

But Sheriff Ian Cruickshank ruled him suitable for participating in a drink-drive rehabilitation scheme.

If Patience successfully completes it, he will get a three-month discount in his disqualification.