Wind farm worker was in charge of van after drinking
Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.
A wind farm engineer who went for a few drinks after arriving in the Caithness area to start work ended up getting arrested.
Daryl Hossack was suspected of having been in charge of his works van with excess alcohol, Wick Sheriff Court heard on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old admitted the offence, which occurred in East Banks, Wick, and was fined £375. He was also banned from driving for three months.
Hossack, of Brookfield Croft, Knockfarrell, Dingwall, had driven north with a colleague, arriving in Wick late on December 10, last year.
Police officers spoke to the accused, who admitted he had been in charge of the vehicle. A test revealed a breath-alcohol reading of 73mcg, more than double the legal limit of 22mcg.
Sheriff Andrew Berry said he took into account that Hossack had accepted responsibility for his actions and that a lengthy disqualification would likely affect Hossack's employment, although that would have been "entirely the accused's fault".
The sheriff stressed that the ban could have been "substantially longer".