Moray Courts: Drug-driver's vehicle broke down in front of police
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A motorist whose car broke down on the A96 has received a driving ban after he was found to be under the influence of drugs.
Elgin Sheriff Court was told that the police had originally stopped another vehicle.
However, Declan Hunter's car came to a halt after its clutch went.
Officers reported detecting a smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle.
A roadside test, carried out at 9.15am on January 20 last year, recorded a positive reading for the drug.
The 26-year-old was then taken to a police station where an official test was administered at 11.34am the same day.
This gave a reading of 6.2 – more than three times the level at which cannabis is ruled to effect someone's driving abilities.
In addition, a bag containing about £30 of cannabis was found on Hunter.
He pleaded guilty to an additional charge of not being insured to drive.
The court heard that Hunter had been smoking the night before at his home.
He had been taking the car to be fixed when its clutch went at Drumlachs, which is between Keith and Fochabers.
Hunter, whose address was given in court papers as Waulkmill Grove, Elgin, was banned from driving for three years.
He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work for the community within the next four months.
His car was also forfeited.
