Caithness farmer fined £470 for being in charge of car with excess alcohol
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A Caithness farmer has been fined £470 for being in charge of his car with excess alcohol.
Leslie Robertson was said to have turned to drink to cope with issues he was facing at the time, described by his solicitor as "a pressure cooker situation".
The court at Wick was told previously that police found the 57-year-old apparently asleep in his car in Harbour Road, Castletown, late on November 22 last year. There was a half-full bottle of wine on the front passenger seat.
Procurator fiscal David Barclay said the accused had the appearance of "someone heavily intoxicated". He was roused and arrested.
Robertson's case was originally heard in January and was continued until last Wednesday to allow him to demonstrate he could behave.
The sheriff on the bench then, Andrew Berry, took the unusual step of restricting the period of disqualification to two months.
Robertson, who admitted having been in charge of his car while unfit through alcohol, wished the sheriff "all the best" in his imminent retirement before leaving the dock.
Robertson's solicitor, Sian Fish, told the court on Wednesday that he was taking help to address issues in his life. The accused, who has a previous record for similar offences, was said to own two farms and a sand quarry business.
He is also a recognised breeder of sheep and sheepdogs.
Sheriff Ian Miller, who considered a supplementary background report, was told that Robertson, of Inkstack Farm, Barrock, had not been in trouble since his initial appearance.
