Offshore worker from Moray flooded Elgin Travelodge
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AN offshore worker from Miltonduff who flooded Elgin Travelodge has been fined and told to pay compensation.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Ben Pirie (37) booked into the hotel in February last year.
On February 12, staff saw Pirie leave the hotel at around 6pm.
Shortly after, the hotel's fire alarm activated and on inspection of the source of the alarm it was discovered that it was coming from Pirie's room.
Staff heard running water coming from the room and after going inside, discovered the carpet covered in water while the shower basin was flooded and overflowing due to a a towel blocking the drain.
Pirie returned a short while after and was told by staff that he could no longer stay at the hotel.
Upon checking the rooms below Pirie's, staff discovered extensive water damage with water flowing from the lights and plugs.
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told the court that due to the level of water, the fire alarm system had become faulty causing in excess of 100 faults and rendering the system "non-operational" which would make the building unsafe in the event of a fire.
Defence solicitor Ben Thom told the court that Pirie had been drinking on the night of the incident and had phoned a taxi to deliver a takeaway to him.
He ran a shower expecting the takeaway to be delivered but upon arriving at the hotel the taxi driver told him he would need to collect it himself.
Thom said Pirie forgot about the shower and headed into Elgin with the taxi driver and upon returning he was "shocked" to discover what had happened.
Thom added that it was "not an accident" but that Pirie accepted that it had been "reckless".
Pirie was convicted on a charge of culpable and reckless conduct.
Sheriff Eric Brown ordered him to pay compensation of £653 covering the total cost of repairs, and issued a fine of £200.
