Aberdeen man smashed car into tree while high on painkillers
Driver had also been smoking cannabis
By Mark Davies
Published: 18/08/2012
AN ABERDEEN drug user who had not driven for 15 years got behind the wheel of a car while high on super strength painkillers – and smashed it into a tree.
John Riach, 41, had also been smoking cannabis on the day of the offence.
The 41-year-old was banned from driving in 1996 for three years and made no attempt to get his licence back when his ban expired.
Defence agent Paul Burnett told Aberdeen Sheriff Court Riach was heavily under the influence of super strength painkillers, which he is prescribed for a chronic back problem.
Riach, whose address was given in court papers as 16 Corthan Crescent, Aberdeen, admitted driving carelessly, driving without a licence and possession of cannabis.
He was banned from driving for six years and sentenced to a community payback order with 170 hours of unpaid work and fined £300.