Court / Heavy fine and ban for repeat drink driver almost six times limit
A MAN from Lerwick who was caught driving while almost six times the alcohol limit last month has been banned from the roads for four years.
Murray Mannall, of Gremmasgaet, was also fined £3,350 when he appeared for sentencing at Lerwick Sheriff Court.
The 37-year-old was stopped by police at the Gremista Brae on 15 March after the alarm was raised about his manner of driving.
He had a reading of 129 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, with the limit being 22.
The court was told on Wednesday that Mannall had previous convictions for drink driving.
However, a motion by the Crown for forfeiture of the car Mannall was driving at the time was not granted by Sheriff Ian Cruickshank after the court heard it was not Mannall, but his father, who owned the vehicle.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie had argued for the vehicle to be forfeited to send “a powerful message” as this had proven to be a “very effective deterrent”.
However Mannall’s defence solicitor, appearing via video link, said it was the son rather than the father who was up for sentencing.
Sheriff Cruickshank told Mannall he would not grant forfeiture but would instead impose the highest financial penalty the law allows, which is £5,000 in this case.
Applying a discount for an early plea, Mannall was fined £3,350 plus £175 in victim surcharge.
Mannall can reduce the period of disqualification by one year if he successfully completes the drink driver rehabilitation course.
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