Moray dad drove barefooted and under the influence with children in car
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A 34-year-old man from Moray who was caught drink driving has been banned from the roads for 22 months.
Ruaridh Mackenzie, of Nethermills Grange near Keith, was spotted driving erratically by a witness on an unclassified road between Keith and Huntly on April 13 last year.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Mackenzie reversed his car at speed and collided with a fence while his children were in the vehicle at around 7.10am.
Upon approaching Mackenzie, who had got out of the vehicle, the witness noted that he was 'unsteady on his feet' and concluded that he was under the influence.
Police officers found Mackenzie around 300 yards away from the vehicle shortly after with no shoes on. He was then arrested after returning a positive preliminary breath test and taken to Keith Police Station.
There, Mackenzie was recorded as having 70mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - over three times the legal limit.
However, when officers tried to put Mackenzie into the back of a police van to transfer him to Inverness, he resisted, forcing them to summon emergency assistance before taking him to the ground.
Defence solicitor Matthew O'Neill told the court that Mackenzie had been drinking vodka on the night prior to the incident and into the early morning.
He had lost access to his children following the breakdown of his relationship with his partner.
However, after regaining access to them he became anxious after they had gone to bed while visiting him so he decided to drink.
Mr O'Neill said: "The following morning he thought he was ok to drive and he panicked at what may take place once he was arrested.
"However, he accepts that he has not dealt with the situation in a sensible fashion."
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov disqualified Mackenzie from driving for a period of 22 months.
However, the ban could be reduced to 17 months if he completes a drink-driver rehabilitation course.
He was also given a 12 month supervision order and sentenced to 135 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months.
