News / Alcohol problem acknowledged
A PERSISTENT road traffic offender narrowly escaped a jail sentence at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.
James Garson, of Summerside, Walls, admitted driving his car at Leasks filling station outside Lerwick on 17 October while almost twice the drink driving limit.
He also pled guilty to failing to identify himself as the driver when police approached him shortly afterwards at Tulloch Developments, Gremista, where he works, after they were called by the filling station staff.
The court heard that the 24 year old had an alcohol problem that was making his life spiral out of control.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said that Garson had only just started to acknowledge he had an alcohol problem towards the end of an 18 month community payback order where he has had to work 260 hours unpaid.
Sheriff Lorna Drummond said that this was the only reason she was not sending him to jail this time around.
Instead she placed him under supervision for 18 months, ordered him to carry out 225 hours community service and banned him from driving for 30 months, all reduced due to his early plea.
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