Aberdeen man spared jail after fourth drink-drive offence

AN ABERDEEN man has landed a seven-year ban after being caught drink driving for the fourth time.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard Derek Watt was almost three times the limit when he drove less than a mile from a funeral to his Aberdeen address.

Sheriff Douglas Cusine ordered Watt to carry out 240 hours of community service, banned him from driving for seven years and put him on probation for three years.

He told Watt: “You have today escaped a jail sentence.”

But he warned him that if he failed to do his probation he would be sent to prison.

Defence agent Les Green said Watt felt “very angry with himself” for committing his fifth drink-related offence.

The court heard the 43-year-old, whose partner was due to deliver twins after receiving fertility treatment, wanted to be present for the birth.

Watt, whose address was given in court papers as 2c Girdlestone Place, Aberdeen, admitted driving with too much alcohol on Torry’s Finnan Place on July 10 this year.

Mr Green said: “He had been at a funeral in the day and had gone back to the gathering.

“He intended to just have tea and sandwiches but was drawn into drinking.

“He has been in the habit when he has been drinking of giving the keys to someone responsible. He was going to give them to his sister but missed her before she left.

“The more he drank he lost the will to do that.”

cshanks@ajl.co.uk