Retired welder from Moray receives driving ban

A retired welder has been banned from driving after a member of the public rang 999 to report him.

Colin Gordon aroused suspicion when he arrived at the service station in Mosstodloch at around noon on October 4.

Speaking at Elgin Sheriff Court, procurator fiscal Victoria Silver said: “The witness saw the accused driving onto the forecourt.

“They saw him exiting the car and thought he appeared intoxicated.”

The police appeared shortly afterwards to find Gordon still there.

Having carried out an initial breath test the officers took the 66-year-old to the police station in Elgin.

The formal test, administered at 1pm, gave a reading of 119 – more than five times the legal limit of 22.

Defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank stated his client had been teetotal for the previous nine years but, due to family problems, he’d succumbed to alcohol on the day of the offence.

Gordon, the court was told, lives just 200 yards from the service station, on Main Road, Mosstodloch.

Mr Cruickshank added: “He deeply regrets his decision to drive there. He’s never been in court before and I’m confident we won’t see him here again.”

Sheriff David Harvie banned Gordon from driving for the next 12 months and imposed a £500 fine.