Court / Three drink drivers banned from the roads
A MAN from Northern Ireland has been banned from the roads for two years and fined £2,000 after admitting charges of drink driving and dangerous driving.
Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday how Rhys Andrew Browne got into his car at the Tesco carpark while drunk and drove off out of town towards Scalloway.
A shop assistant who had just helped the 27-year-old with his shopping due to his state of drunkenness called the police, who caught up with him near Scord on 10 June.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Browne, of Lisnarea Avenue, Derry, was driving at excessive speeds and was encroaching onto the opposing carriageway and in the face of oncoming traffic.
He eventually collided with the crash barrier at the top of the steep stretch of road at the Scord.
The fiscal said that once arrested and taken to Lerwick Police Station Browne showed disreagard for the seriousness of the situation and appeared to be proud of his actions.
Browne was not in court on Wednesday as he was caring for his father back home in Northern Ireland, but pledead guilty to two charges, including having three and half times the legal limit for alcohol in his system.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan described his client’s behaviour as “stupid” and said that he clearly had been under influence of alcohol.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said this was was a sustained case of dangerous driving under the influence of alcohol, which was further compounded by Browne’s attitude towards it.
He allowed him to pay the fine in £100 per month instalments, and also ruled that Browne had first to pass the extended test of competence before being allowed back on to the roads.
Meanwhile, a young man from Bressay lost his licence for a year after driving on Lerwick’s Esplanade while just over the legal limit half an hour after midnight on 15 June.
The court heard how Lewis Harkness, of Ham, was watched by police when parking his car.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his 22-year-old client had some beer earlier in the day and thought he would be okay to drive. He understood that he would be losing his licence, the solicitor added.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said Harkness could reduce the period of disqualification by a quarter should he successfully complete the drink driver’s rehabilitation course. Harkness was also fined £400.
And a 49-year-old woman from Lerwick was banned for a year after admitting driving while four times the legal limit at Mansefield on 18 May.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Emma Williamson was clearly under the influence when she parked her car at her home address.
Speaking in mitigation, solicitor Tommy Allan said it all happened during a great crisis for her, adding that he did not wish to give further details in court.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank fined Williamson £600 and gave her the opportunity to get her licence back after nine months should she successfully complete the drink driver’s rehabilitation course.
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