5 times drink-driver avoids jail despite record
A 60 year old Wester Ross man who had four drink driving convictions was spared a jail sentence after running up his fifth.
In July Paul Louis of Martincroft, Laide, was given a restriction of liberty order as an alternative to custody whereby he must wear an electronic tag and remain at home between 8pm and 8am for the next four months.
Sheriff David Harvie also disqualified him from driving for four years at Inverness Sheriff Court after Louis admitted driving near Gairloch on the A832 on July 8, 2023 with excess alcohol.
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His reading was 67mcg when the maximum is 22mcg of alcohol in breath.
Louis appeared again, but on this occasion before Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald, who had called for a background report after Louis pleaded guilty on September 17 to driving near his home on May 18, 2024 with 58mcg of alcohol in his system.
Fiscal depute Emily Hood told the court that police stopped Louis on the A832 between Gairloch and Braemor junction about 7pm due to concerns over his driving.
Defence solicitor advocate Clare Russell had asked the sheriff not to jail his client, although she conceded that, given his record, custody would be considered.
"A combination of his poor health and the loss of his job has contributed to a significant drink problem,” she said.
“He had been drinking four bottles of vodka a week but he has reduced his intake and changed his view on his drinking.
"He still has his car so he can sell it to pay a fine. There are no other matters outstanding."
Sheriff Macdonald fined Louis £840 and disqualified him from driving for 58 months.
She told him: "If you carry on like this, at some point you are going to have a serious accident and kill yourself or someone else. You don't seem to listen to the road traffic rules. You are very close to a jail sentence."
