Lift home over the limit

Asking for a lift home from the pub led to someone calling the police to say the driver was over the limit.

Fisherman Angus Morrison Prentice, aged 40, was the driver and he admitted drink driving in Tarbert on Sunday April 3 this year, when he appeared at the April sitting of Campbeltown Sheriff Court.

His breath test reading was 70 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath; the limit is 22.

Procurator fiscal depute James Dunbar said that the police at Lochgilphead were contacted by someone who had been given a lift by Prentice; they had asked for a lift when walking home from a pub in Tarbert and became concerned that Prentice was over the limit.

Defence agent Stephen MacSporran said the incident had been ‘a wake-up call' for Prentice, of Forza, Kilmichael Glassary.

‘He is ashamed of himself and is seeking help,' said Mr MacSporran.

Sheriff Patrick Hughes fined Prentice £670, with a £40 victim surcharge, and handed down a disqualification of 20 months which can be reduced to 15 if Prentice successfully completes a driver's rehabilitation course, at his own expense.