Drink-driver caught with knife had it for ‘sentimental’ reasons

Carnoustie mechanic found to be over the limit is banned from road

An Angus mechanic found in possession of a lock knife when caught drinkdriving told police he had the weapon for “sentimental” and work reasons.

Lee Morrison, 35, of Kinloch Street, Carnoustie, was stopped by police carrying out routine vehicle inspections on April 22.

There was a smell of alcohol and, when breathalysed, Morrison was found to be over the drink-drive limit.

He appeared before Sheriff Jillian Martin-brown at Forfar Sheriff Court yesterday.

He pled guilty to four charges – taking and driving a Ford transit van without the owner’s permission; driving on the A930 Monifieth to Carnoustie road, Macdonald Smith Drive and Ravensby Road, Carnoustie, without insurance; driving with 36 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath which exceeded the 22 microgrammes limit,

“He said he used it for work purposes to open packages and for cutting rope

and being in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a lock knife.

Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan told the court the van’s owner gave Morrison the keys of a Ford Transit van to allow him to remove tools from the van at 3pm that day.

“That evening, officers saw the vehicle and stopped it for a standard vehicle check.

“The accused openly admitted he had taken the van from his friend’s address without permission.

“Officers detected alcohol and he gave a first reading of 47 microgrammes.

“They arrested him and contacted the van’s owner who said he had not given him permission.

“There was a lock knife with a blade 75 millimetres in length.

“He said he used it for work purposes to open packages and for cutting rope.

“He said ‘it’s sentimental, I got it from my grandfather’.”

Morrison’s defence agent told the court her client was a mechanic by trade.

“He used the knife as part of his employment,” she said.

“He understands he will be disqualified. He is currently unemployed but is due to start work offshore shortly.”

Sheriff Martin-brown disqualified Morrison from driving for 12 months for the drink-driving charge, his licence was endorsed and he was fined £400.