Court / Dangerous drink driver detained by ‘appalled and alarmed’ witnesses
A TWENTY year old whose dangerous driving “appalled and alarmed” a group so much that they detained him has been warned he could be jailed.
Sullom man Daniel Johnson drove at “grossly excessive speeds” through Lerwick on 11 April this year while drunk and already banned, mounting kerbs as he did so.
Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday that a group passing him were so disturbed by the manner of his driving they phoned the police and followed him, before stopping him from getting behind the wheel again.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank paid tribute to those witnesses, saying he had “absolute respect for those individuals and the way they acted”.
The court heard that Johnson had passed the other car at around 11.45pm at North Lochside, with his car “skidding and screeching” as it mounted the kerb.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the occupants of the other vehicle were “appalled and alarmed” by his driving, and immediately phoned the police.
They then saw Johnson’s car at the Esplanade, again travelling at “grossly excessive speeds”, before it pulled up in front of the Thule bar.
The court heard how Johnson and his passengers got out to go into the pub, with the witnesses confronting him about his driving.
They noted he “appeared intoxicated”.
Johnson went into the Thule, with the witnesses waiting outside for the police to arrive.
But Johnson then left the pub and got back in to his car.
“The witnesses could smell alcohol from him and effectively stopped him from driving,” Mackenzie said.
The court heard Johnson removed the keys from the ignition, but then began behaving aggressively towards the group and started shouting and swearing at them.
He even attempted to throw a punch at one of them, the fiscal said.
One of them took Johnson to the ground and restrained him until the police were able to arrive.
Johnson then tried to make a “brief” run for it when they did arrive – but fell over and injured himself.
He required to be taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital to be checked over.
Mackenzie said Johnson was breathalysed over two hours later, and still found to be more than two times over the drink driving limit.
Johnson had 107 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of blood, with the limit being 50 microgrammes.
He admitted the drink driving charge, as well as behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, driving while disqualified and driving dangerously.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said he would reserve mitigation until Johnson’s next appearance, with his sentencing deferred for the preparation of background reports.
However, Allan said his client was “clearly in some quite considerable trouble”.
Sheriff Cruickshank said he was “grossly disturbed” by Johnson’s actions.
He praised the witnesses who detained him, before adding: “They should not have had to do so, of course.”
The sheriff warned Johnson he was “well aware” of his previous convictions, and told him that all sentencing options would be considered.
Johnson will return for sentencing on 23 October. He has also been banned from driving in the interim.
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