Moray driving offence saved alcoholic’s life
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A self-confessed alcoholic from Moray is said to probably owe his life to being caught drink driving by the police.
When breathalysed Alan Thompson provided what was described as one of the highest ever readings ever seen by Elgin Sheriff Court.
Officers called at the 54-year-old’s home at 5pm on June 11 following an incident on the roads earlier that day.
Speaking at Elgin Sheriff Court, procurator fiscal Victoria Silver said: “He appeared to be under the influence, slurring his words and unsteady on his feet.
“He originally denied having driven. He also said that he was an alcoholic and would fail a breath test, adding that he’d had a whisky about an hour before.”
Thompson was taken from his property at Smithfield Place, Lossiemouth, to Elgin police station where, at 7pm, he took an official breath test.
This recorded a reading of 138 – more than six times the official limit.
Thompson also pleaded guilty to another motoring offence dated to August 8 last year, when a concerned member of the public contacted the police.
He was taken from the Co-op car park to the police station in Elgin, where he consistently refused to take a breath test, instead stating that he wanted to go to sleep.
Defence solicitor Grant Daglish said: “It has saved his life. It was the wake-up call he needed. He has abstained since.”
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov stated that the reading, taken two and a half-hours after the original incident, was still one of the highest reading she had ever seen.
She said: “This offence occurred during a particularly dark period in your life.”
Sheriff Pasportnikov stated that a lack of previous convictions, allied to Thompson’s strong desire to never drink again, meant she would impose a community-based sentence.
He was given a three-year driving ban, plus 180 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to work with Arrows, the addiction service, for the next year.
It was stated that he would be eligible for a nine-month cut in his ban, provided he paid for and passed the drink driving rehabilitation scheme.
