Perthshire Advertiser

Gas worker was over the limit

- COURT REPORTER

A gas utility worker has been left counting the cost of a drink-fuelled incident in Auchterard­er when he was caught in charge of his Audi A5 with more than three times the legal booze limit.

Twenty-nine-year-old Jamie Bolton was fined £750 and banned for 27 months at Perth Sheriff Court.

But if he successful­ly completes a drink/driving rehabilita­tion course, he will get his disqualifi­cation cut by six months.

The court heard he has a previous conviction for being drunk behind the wheel from February, 2017, when he was put off the road for a year and fined £405.

He admitted being in charge of the car in Auchterard­er High Street on October 11, 2020, with 70 microgramm­es of alcohol on his breath. The maximum allowed is 22.

Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall told the court:“Shortly before 5pm, police received informatio­n of a male driving erraticall­y.

“At 6.40pm, officers observed the accused’s vehicle and, on approachin­g it, the accused was found to be in the driver’s seat.

“There was a strong smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle.”

Bolton said he had taken an alcoholic drink an hour previously and was required to provide a roadside breath test.

That proved positive and he was taken to police HQ where the remainder of the procedure was carried out.

He was cautioned and charged at West Bell Street, Dundee, just before 9pm.

A solicitor for the accused said he was a gas maintenanc­e operative and drove a works van.

“He accepts he was in charge of the vehicle when seen by the officers,” explained the lawyer.

“It is my understand­ing his employment will continue.”

Bolton had been with a friend in Auchterard­er, with whom he had planned to spend the night, and had “taken drink.”

The lawyer pointed out that disqualifi­cation was “discretion­ary”and asked that his client be considered for the drink/driving rehab course.

Sheriff Neil Bowie said that a ban was“appropriat­e”given the previous conviction.

Bolton, of Afton Street, Braehead, Stirling, will pay the fine at £100 a month.

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