Fine and ban for Rosemarkie drink-driver

A HOSPITAL worker got behind the wheel of a car to look for a friend after a night out and drove while nearly four times over the legal alcohol limit.

Joseph Graham (23) of High Street, Rosemarkie was stopped by police in Bellfield Road, North Kessock at 4.30am on Sunday morning.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard on Monday a roadside breath test proved positive and a sample taken later at Burnett Road Police Station in Inverness produced a reading of 120mcgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath.

The reading was nearly four times the legal limit of 35mcgs.

Depute fiscal Laura Ryan told Sheriff David Sutherland that police on mobile patrol followed a car being driven by Graham and when he was stopped they smelled alcohol on his breath.

Solicitor Alison Foggo said the NHS hospital administrator had been in Inverness for a night out and had arranged to stay the night with a friend at Bellfield Park.

Ms Foggo said one of their party had become lost and Graham received a text from the individual and “foolishly went out to try and find him”.

“He regrets his complete lack of judgement,” said Ms Foggo.

Sheriff Sutherland fined Graham £600 and told him it would have been £900 but for his guilty plea.

He banned him from driving for two years and told him if he sat the drink-driver rehabilitation course the disqualification would be reduced by four months.