Drugged driver banned for 16 months

A drugged-up dad who drove after taking a mystery pill which left him with blue lips has been banned.

Stuart Hunt, 39, drove his black Vauxhall Astra in the Halfords car park in Elgin after taking medication and a pill which left him unsteady on his feet, drowsy and slurring his speech.

Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh previously told Elgin Sheriff Court that police barricaded Hunt’s car in the Lossie Wynd North car park to confront him after receiving an anonymous tip-off about him at 11am on July 2 2020.

“The anonymous caller seemed to believe the driver to be intoxicated,” she said. “Police used their vehicle to block the exit.

“They noticed the driver was unsteady on his feet. He had blue residue around his mouth and his tongue and lips were blue.

“He was slurring his words when he told police he had taken prescribed medication but nothing else.”

The court heard how the father-of-one gave a negative drug test but fell asleep as he was driven to Burnett Road police station. He later told police officers: “I was an idiot for not taking my medication at a time when I was safe to drive.”

Hunt, pled guilty to driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

Defence agent Grant Dalglish said Hunt had taken a pill given to him by one of three men who were in his car.

“He didn’t know them and has not seen them since,” Mr Dalglish told the court. “One of these males gave him a blue tablet. He didn’t know what it was and admits he made a mistake.”

Sheriff Robert McDonald banned Hunt, of Braeview Road, Buckpool, from the roads for 16 months.

He also gave him a six-month curfew and supervision.