Drink-drive shepherd gets licence back so he can deliver lambs

A banned driver has succeeded in his bid to get his driving licence back early so he can deliver lambs.

Shepherd David Simpson, 65, was banned from the road for four years after being caught drink-driving for a second time in 2015.

At Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, Simpson was granted the right to bring his ban to an end seven months early so he can return to work in time for the lambing season.

Sheriff William Wood told him: “The consequences of your drink-driving have been brought home sharply to you. It is to be hoped you have learned from all this.

“If there is another offence you are going to find yourself unemployed, so the future is in your own hands.

“In the whole circumstances, because of the hardship to you if the petition is not granted, in that you will lose your job, and the inconvenience to others – particularly the estate which will have difficulty finding a valued and experienced shepherd – I’m prepared to grant the application.”

Simpson, of Easter Dalnabreck, Ballintuim, Perthshire, was banned in May 2015 for driving while more than three times the legal limit. He had previously been banned for 21 months in 2011.

A job-swap arrangement to allow him to keep working was no longer manageable, solicitor Jamie Baxter said.

He said: “He is a full-time shepherd on four farms in the area and has approximately 1,000 sheep he is in charge of.

“Part of his duties requires him to drive from one farm to another across public roads, as well as driving farm machinery and going to livestock auctions.

“The estate will require to employ a full-time shepherd and that will not be Mr Simpson unless his licence is restored. The consequences if the application is refused will be heavy indeed.”