Courts in Moray: Builder was over the drink drive limit on Christmas Day
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A builder has been banned from driving after he was caught over the limit on Christmas Day last year.
The police received a call shortly after midnight to say that a fence had been damaged by a vehicle.
A patrol came across the car being driven by Keith Robertson on Barhill Road, Buckie, at 1.50am.
Speaking at Elgin Sheriff Court, procurator fiscal Karen Poke said: "Officers signalled for the car to stop.
"They saw the accused was alone in the vehicle and went over to talk to him.
"After noticing that his breath smelt of alcohol they administered a roadside test which the accused failed."
A formal breath was carried out on Robertson at the police station at 3am.
This gave a reading of 69, compared to the legal limit of 22.
Robertson's address was given in court papers as Ordiquhill near Aberchirder.
He admitted one charge of driving while under the influence and another of having no insurance.
Defence solicitor Grant Daglish stated that, on the night of the offence, his client had received a phone call from someone he knew.
That person was said to have been experiencing an emotional crisis and had asked Robertson to come see them.
Mr Daglish said: "There was a reason for him to be driving. He's going to lose his licence – he knows that.
"All I can do is ask the court for the period of disqualification to be as short as possible."
The court head that Robertson had been banned before but had not been in trouble since 2010.
The 40-year-old was banned for 18 months.
He was also fined £350, which he agreed to pay at the rate of £25/month.
