New Year's Day drink-driver was over five times limit on north coast road
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A DRIVER from Durham was more than five times over the legal drink-drive limit while on a north coast road on New Year’s Day, a court heard.
Leigh Hull, Red Houses, High Etherley, Durham, came to police attention because he was driving so slowly on the A 836 near Bettyhill.
“His manner of driving caused officers to speak to him in his car," procurator fiscal depute Hilary Michopoulou told Tain Sheriff Court today. "He identified himself as the driver and was taken to Wick police station and was happy to provide two specimens of breath.”
The tests showed Hull to have 117 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath– the limit is 22 in 100.
The 33-year-old, who is in full-time employment as an HGV technician, admitted drink driving on January 1. The court heard he had a previous analogous conviction.
Defence agent Rory Gowans said that Hull and his family had been visiting his mother-in-law, who lives in Bettyhill, at the time of the incident.
“The best I can say about it is that he cooperated fully and proffered a plea of guilty at the earliest opportunity,” said Mr Gowans.
“As a rule he does not drink. Maybe when he does he cannot judge how much he had and the latent effect."
He added that Hull’s driving licence was an essential part of his employment and his job could be in jeopardy, although he was a valued employee and hoped he would be kept on.
Sheriff Gary Aitken deferred sentencing until March 21 for background reports and imposed an interim driving disqualification on Hull in the meantime.
And the sheriff warned that Hull was facing a substantial road ban as well as possibly a hefty financial penalty.
“This is a very serious matter, given your previous conviction, even though it is some considerable time ago, but particularly because of your very high breath alcohol reading,” said the sheriff.
“Disqualification in excess of the 12-month minimum is inevitable and I suspect that is going to have an impact on your employment.”
