Sheriff calls for stiffer drink-driving sentences

A SHERIFF has called on the Government to increase the maximum jail term available for persistent drink drivers.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis spoke of his frustration after being limited to imposing less than a year on habitual drink driver Derek Hughes.

Hughes, 55, was jailed for just 10 months after he admitted his fifth drink driving offence at Perth Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Foulis said: “This is also your second conviction for driving while disqualified. One observation might be that perhaps the legislature – probably Westminster – should look at whether the present maximum sentence available for drink driving and driving while disqualified is actually adequate. It seems to me that this is an extremely serious offence, but the maximum sentence available to me is 12 months.

“I say it is a serious offence because you were driving in the face of a ban imposed a few years ago and you were almost five times over the legal limit. For your own sake and the sake of others I hope that upon your release you will take steps to address the issues you have.”

As he was led off to prison, businessman Hughes said: “I take on board exactly what you say and will take measures to address these issues on my release.”

Hughes, of Farington Moss, Lancashire, admitted driving drunk and while banned on the A9 near Ballinluig on 17 February this year.