Moray drink driver had to be airlifted to hospital in Aberdeen following crash on Fochabers to Buckie A98 road
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A drunk motorist was still way over the limit more than four hours after he crashed his car on a busy Moray road.
Andrew Bain lost control near the village of Fochabers on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
The 59-year-old was subsequently flown by air ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that no other vehicles were involved in the crash which occurred at about 3pm, close to the A98 roundabout.
Bain had been too badly injured for the police to breathalyse him at the accident scene.
A blood test was finally administered while he was lying in a hospital bed in Aberdeen.
This took place at 7.25pm
It recorded a blood/alcohol level of 227, compared to the legal limit which is just 50.
Defence solicitor Stephen Carty stated that the offence was "completely out of character" for his client.
Mr Carty added: "During the course of the day he'd had a substantial amount to drink.
"That level of alcohol had caused his judgment to go completely out of the window.
"With hindsight he realises it was a ridiculous thing for him to do.
"He's eternally grateful that nobody else was injured as a result of his driving.
"He thinks about it constantly."
As well as the helicopter, the police and two fire engines attended the scene of the accident.
The A98 road to Buckie was closed to traffic for around two hours before it could be reopened.
Bain admitted a charge of drink driving.
Passing sentence, sheriff David Harvie commented: "The risk was absolutely obvious that you were going to have an accident."
The sheriff banned Bain, whose address was given in court papers as Spey Bay, for 15 months.
He also ordered him to pay a £1000 fine.
