News / Man drove while seven times the limit
A MAN from Scalloway who drove while seven times the alcohol limit has been caught drink driving for a second time within a week.
Torbjorn Riise, of Undirhoull, was remanded in custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Friday ahead of sentencing next month.
The 45 year old appeared from custody to plead guilty to driving a car with 156 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath at Undirhoull and Main Street, in Scalloway, on 19 January. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.
Riise also admitted failing to give information about his identity to police.
A week later he was caught drink driving in Scalloway again.
In court on Friday, Riise admitted driving at East Voe on 26 January with 131 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which is six times the legal limit.
That offence was committed while he was subject to an undertaking to appear at Lerwick Sheriff Court.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie made a motion to forfeit the vehicle used by Riise before confirming he would oppose defence agent Tommy Allan’s request for bail.
Mackenzie said that while Riise’s “aggressive drink problem” may have been successfully battled in the past, he had “fallen off the wagon quite spectacularly”.
The fiscal said the court would be failing in its public duty if the 45 year old was released on bail, adding that a stint in jail could potentially be beneficial to Riise and his health.
Allan said that his client, who works as a fish processor, had been treated in hospital due to his alcohol consumption.
Honorary sheriff Malcolm Bell deferred sentence until 15 February for social work reports to be prepared, while the decision on forfeiture of the vehicle was moved to the same date.
Bell said he would be “failing in his duty to the public” if he granted bail because of the likelihood of Riise reoffending before remanding him in custody.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.