A96 drink driver from Moray caught between Elgin and Lhanbryde banned

A drink driver that police saw straddling the lanes of four roundabouts and “veering” at kerbs has been banned and fined.

Graeme Mackenzie, from Dufftown, was more than three times the legal limit when he was caught on the A96 between Lhanbryde and Elgin on July 10.

The 41-year-old, of Conval Street, pleaded guilty and was disqualified from driving at Elgin Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Fiscal depute Karen Poke said officers were driving behind Mackenzie’s car at around 8.30pm, which “veered towards the kerb, nearly hitting the kerb”.

She added: “They followed the car, which negotiated four roundabouts straddling the lanes.

After the police turned on their blue lights, the Dufftown man pulled over.

Approaching the car, Ms Poke added, officers “detected a smell of alcohol from the driver”.

“…misunderstood how alcohol works within the bloodstream…”

Testing positive for alcohol at the roadside, Mackenzie was cautioned and taken to Elgin Police Station.

At 9pm, the 41-year-old was found to have an alcohol level of 66, three times the legal limit of 22.

Solicitor Grant Daglish said Mackenzie had “apologised” for the offence, and “takes responsibility”.

“This is a situation where he had been drinking earlier in the day and misunderstood how alcohol works within the bloodstream,” he added.

“At the moment he is between jobs due to a career change.”

Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov disqualified Mackenzie from driving for 12 months, which could be reduced to nine months through a drink driving rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £520, to be repaid at £25 per month.