Golspie contractor's good deed led to fine and driving ban
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A GOLSPIE man described as a “pillar of his community”, took to the wheel while more than four times over the drink-drive limit in order to do a good deed for a friend, a court was told.
Self-employed building contractor Michael Bonner, Tarbat View, was giving the elderly friend a lift home when he was stopped by police on the village’s Back Street at 1am on Friday, June 26.
He had 91mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the limit is 22 in 100.
At Tain Sheriff Court today, Bonner was banned from the road for a year and fined £400 after admitting the offence.
The court heard that he had organised a barbecue at his home on the day in question, which was shortly after initial lockdown restrictions had been lifted.
Defence agent Marc Dixon said his client had had no intentions of driving but the family friend, who had been invited to stay the night, became unwell and agitated and decided he wanted to go home.
“Despite everyone’s efforts, the gentleman could not be calmed and set off to walk home, a distance of two to three miles through a dense wood,” said the lawyer. "Mr Bonner and his family were desperately concerned and persuaded him to return.”
Efforts were made to call a taxi and friends to take the man home, but all to no avail.
Mr Dixon said: “The gentleman became more aggrieved and agitated and, against his better judgement, Mr Bonner gave him a lift. That is a source of bitter regret to him. He has driven for 30 years and has an unblemished record.
“He is a genuine first offender, and it was an error of judgement in a man who ordinarily is absolutely law abiding and a pillar of his community."
The court was told that the loss of his licence would be “cataclysmically difficult” for Bonner, who works across the Highlands, employs two full-time staff and has just taken on a teenage apprentice.
“He has had to live for some time with this hanging over him and the worry and anxiety as to what is going to happen to his business,” said Mr Dixon.
A letter of reference from Inverness lawyer and Bonner family friend Mary Nimmo was handed to Sheriff Robert Fraser.
Imposing the road ban and fine, Sheriff Fraser said he had listened to everything that had been said on Bonner’s behalf.
