Drink-driver hit road signs in Caithness crash
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A driver escaped serious injury after he failed to take a right-hand bend, mounted a verge and careered along it for 100 metres, hitting hazard warning signs before coming to a halt in a ditch.
But Connor Bews’ luck ran out after police officers arrived at the accident scene and breath-tested him positive.
A follow-up test on the 20-year-old wasn't possible with the intoximeter at Wick Police Station so Bews was required to provide a blood sample but refused, citing needle phobia as the reason.
Bews admitted driving carelessly and losing control of his van on the A9, near Halkirk junction on December 22 last year, and refusing to provide a blood sample.
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He was fined a total of £450 and banned from driving for a year.
Fiscal Depute Grant McLennan said that there was no sign of the accused when police officers arrived on the scene, but as they were making arrangements to have the van and its smashed windscreen towed away, he appeared and identified himself as the driver.
Solicitor Josey Donachie described Bews as someone who was "struggling with alcohol addiction".
He had fallen out with his ex-girlfriend and felt he had to get away and had stupidly got into his van to drive from his home at Clay of Allan Cottages, at Fearn, to Thurso.
Bews was “remorseful” and was seeking help with his drinking with a view to "making positive changes in his life".
Replying to Sheriff Neil Wilson, Miss Donachie said that disqualification would not cost the accused his job but would “curtail” his duties as a painter.
The sheriff described Bews as being at the top of the careless driving scale and fined him £150.
He was fined a further £300 for refusing to provide a sample.
