Police alerted by 'erratic' driving

A drink-driver came to police attention because of the erratic path his vehicle was taking on the A9 in the early hours.

Officers stopped Derek Vass (35), Sutherland Street, Tain, on the trunk road at its junction with the B817 at Kildary at 3.30am on December 27.

A roadside test proved positive and he was taken to Burnett Road Police station where a blood test was taken at 5.30am.

Tain Sheriff Court heard on Monday that Vass, who admitted drink-driving, was more than four times over the legal drink-drive limit. He had 216 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The limit is 50 in 100.

Roderick Urquhart, prosecuting, said: "The vehicle was driven in an erratic manner."

Defence agent Neil Wilson said Vass was a "good citizen making a positive contribution" but had made a foolish decision. "It is his first and I suspect, last, drink-drive conviction," he said.

Vass was banned from the road for 16 months and fined £900.