Company director jailed and banned from driving for life

A company director was jailed for 10 months and banned from driving for life after his fifth drink driving conviction.

On Wednesday, Perth Sheriff Court heard how Derek Hughes, 55, of Farington, Lancashire, was found to be almost five times the legal limit for driving when he was travelling on the A9 Inverness to Perth road on February 17 in his Jaguar XF.

Hughes had admitted driving with excess alcohol – 101 mics – on the road near Ballinluig and also to driving while disqualified.

Solicitor Mike Tavendale, defending, said his client was “fairly realistic” about what sentence the court may impose.

“My client is a company director who has told me he will address his issues,” he said.

Sentencing Hughes, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him it was “very clear” that he had set off driving knowing he must have been over the legal limit.

“You drove southbound down the A9 Inverness to Perth road – one of major trunk roads to and from the Central Belt – at around 5pm, when it would be either be dark or getting dark,” he said.

“Taking into account your criminal record of drink-driving – this being your fifth offence – it is inevitable that a custodial sentence should be handed out.

“This was also your second conviction for driving while disqualified.

“It seems to me that it could be time for the law to be reviewed on what the maximum sentence is for an offence like this. Perhaps that may be down to people in Westminster as I feel the present sentencing is not adequate.”

Hughes told the sheriff he would address his “issues”.