Courts in Moray: Motorist caught with cocaine in Elgin
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A motorist was caught driving under the influence of cocaine in Elgin the morning after Scotland failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Steven Parkington was stopped by police near the Morriston Road/A941 junction shortly after 10am on June 2.
Inside his vehicle they discovered a wrap of white powder containing just over three grammes of cocaine, with a street value of about £150.
A blood sample taken at the police station also revealed the drug was in his system.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Parkington had spent the previous evening in a bar watching Scotland play Ukraine.
Defence solicitor Matthew O'Neill said: "He had been drinking with friends when someone in the bar offered him cocaine.
"After the game he had returned home and had some sleep.
"When he got up the next morning he felt he was okay to drive to work – but quite clearly he was in no fit state to be behind the wheel."
Mr O'Neill stated his 29-year-old client had been self-employed at the time of the offence.
This business, the lawyer added, had been hit hard by the pandemic – which had been causing Parkington stress.
Being able to have a night out was rare for him at that time. Therefore, Mr O'Neill suggested, his client had acted out of character when he did get the chance.
Parkington, whose address was given in court parers as Calcots Crescent, Elgin, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession and another of driving while under the influence.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank handed down a 12-month driving ban and an £840 fine.
