Drink driver sentenced for Moray crash that saw biker airlifted to hospital
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A drink driver who badly injured a motorbiker has been ordered to carry out unpaid work for the community.
Graeme Costine hit the bike while overtaking another vehicle on the A95 between Aberlour and Grantown on October 6 last year.
The force of this collision saw the rider thrown a distance of 60ft from the impact point.
Costine, a former RAF serviceman, was later breathalysed. His reading of 53 was more than twice the legal limit of 22.
The 47-year-old previously admitted driving with excess alcohol and causing serious injury by careless driving.
Sentence was deferred until today at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank said: "He had been drinking the night before and delayed his journey thinking it would be out of his system. Sadly it wasn't.
"There is nothing to suggest bad driving. It was an unfortunate accident which had very serious consequences.
"The rider was on a scrambler and it shouldn't have been on the road. He was wearing dark clothing, no helmet and had no lights.
"I am not seeking to blame the rider but there was some contribution.
"My client and other witnesses were driving into a low sun. The background was dark and no-one saw the bike. It is unclear when he emerged from a field and onto the carriageway."
The court previously heard that the biker, who sustained a broken collar bones and two broken legs, had to be airlifted from the accident scene.
He underwent surgery in hospital which involved two pins being inserted by medical staff.
Costine, of Ballingry, near Lochgelly in Fife, was ordered to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work for the community.
Sheriff Sara Matheson also banned him from driving for 18 months, adding that he would have to resit his test before returning behind the wheel.
