Wick man fined for drink-driving after altercation with teenagers

A man walking home from the pub spotted something suspicious as he approached his house.

Mark Thain (55) shouted to a group of teenagers crouched down beside his van and when they moved off decided to follow them in the vehicle.

Unfortunately Thain had been drinking, Wick Sheriff Court heard, and was found to be almost five times the legal limit for driving after one of the group of youths reported him to the police.

Thain pleaded guilty and was fined £400 and banned from driving for a year.

His tale of woe on February 26 was outlined by fiscal David Barclay who described the circumstances as "somewhat unusual".

The fiscal said that Thain had been concerned that his van might have been vandalised by the teenagers.

He went on: "It was then that the accused made a significant error of judgment. He got into his van with the intention of following the people he thought had been up to no good."

The fiscal said that officers checked CCTV footage in the area which had recorded Thain driving a short distance from where the van had been parked in Saltoun Street, Wick.

Mr Barclay continued that Thain clearly had the demeanour of someone who had been drinking and he gave a positive breath test.

A follow-up test revealed a reading of 113mg – the limit is 22mg.

Apparently, the teenagers had been giving Thain cheek and this may have prompted the accused to react by taking the action he did the court heard.

Mr Barclay added that, according to police officers Thain, who was not represented in court, was "genuinely" remorseful and had apologised repeatedly for his behaviour.

The fiscal said he had spent some time going through the events of that night and it was clear Thain had acted on the spur of the moment as opposed to a deliberate act of driving with excess alcohol "with little thought for the consequences."

Sheriff Mark O' Hanlon described the accused's reaction as "stupid" but said he would take the entire circumstances into account.