Thurso man banned after double driving offences on A9

Police on the A9 were concerned about the manner of driving by a motorist ahead of them on the morning of October 29 last year.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that the car was sitting too close behind a lorry and weaving from left to right at the Carrbridge fly-over before it overtook the HGV by crossing solid white lines and accelerated away.

Fiscal depute Victoria Silver told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank that the officers activated their blue lights and stopped the vehicle near Lynwilg.

Thirty-nine-year-old Muir Campbell of Albyn Court, Ormlie, Thurso was charged with careless driving.

Just two weeks later, on the afternoon of November 11, Campbell was in trouble with the law when he was reported for drunk driving.

Ms Silver said he was traced back to his home where officers were waiting and he was charged with drink driving. His reading was 71 mcg of alcohol when the limit is 22 mcg.

He pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

The sheriff fined him £520 on the careless driving offence and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work on the drink-driving charge. Campbell was also placed on one year of social work supervision and banned from driving for 12 months.

However, if he successfully completes the drink-driver rehabilitation scheme, he will get a three-month discount on his ban.