Highland drink-driver told ‘pure good fortune’ he didn’t kill himself or someone else
A sheriff was told that a motorist recorded two of the highest alcohol readings since the new 22mcgs legal limit was reduced from 35mcgs in two offences committed within a four-month period.
On both occasions on June 14 and October 27 last year, 34-year-old Ian McWlliams, of Croft Road, Kiltarlity was driving near his home on the wrong side of his street and between Inverness and Beauly at Rhinduie, fiscal depute Victoria Silver told Inverness Sheriff Court.
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Members of the public had reported concern to the police about his driving, she added. McWilliams admitted driving with 140mcgs and 131mcgs in his system.
Defence solicitor Rory Gowans agreed with Sheriff Gary Aitken that they were very high and "concerning".
He told the court: "When I saw him he was at the lowest of anyone I had ever seen. But he is engaging with Osprey House (alcohol treatment centre). Depression and a rapid descent into alcoholism led to these offences and similarly, he has had a rapid ascent out of it."
Sheriff Aitken told McWilliams: "It does you credit that you recognised that you had a problem and did something about it. Whatever difficulty you had in your life at the time, alcohol will not cure it, only magnify it. It is pure good fortune that you did not injure or kill yourself or someone else."
He banned McWilliams from driving for three years, placed him under 18 months of social work supervision and ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work.
