Cromarty drink-driver fined at Inverness Sheriff Court
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The offender was more than twice the legal limit when he was stopped by police.
Staff at the Skiach filling station near Evanton called police when they suspected Dylan Patience of being drunk.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that the 24-year-old of Townlands Park, Cromarty, was stopped by officers and a reading showed he was over twice the legal limit.
He admitted driving on November 26, 2020 with 49mcgs of alcohol in his system when the limit is 22mcgs.
Defence solicitor Matthew Berlow said: "This moment of madness will be quite devastating for him because he is likely to lose his job.
"He is the driver for the escort vehicle for wide loads. He was concerned that he was going to be assaulted or attacked and got into his car to drive away."
Patience was fined £580 and banned from driving for a year.
But Sheriff Ian Cruickshank ruled him suitable for participating in the drink drive rehabilitation scheme.
If Patience successfully completes it, he will get a three month discount in his disqualification.
