Courts in Moray:- Drunk serviceman rolled car on A96

A military serviceman has been banned from driving after he rolled his car on the A96 while under the influence of alcohol.

The occupants of another vehicle were heading in the direction of Elgin when they saw a bumper lying in the middle of the road, not far from Alves.

They stopped to move the obstruction as it was 7.20pm on a dark winter evening.

At they got out they spotted the car belonging to Jamie Kelly on its roof.

Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Kelly was still inside and complaining that he'd hurt his back.

The witnesses tried to help him but couldn't see how he was stuck.

More vehicles began to stop at the roadside, their occupants getting out to assist.

Police and paramedics also arrived on the scene.

Referring to Kelly, fiscal depute Emma MacEwan said: "It was believed he was under the influence. His speech was slurred."

An ambulance took the 31-year-old to Dr Gray's.

Kelly pleaded guilty to a single charge of drink driving on January 9, 2022.

Defence solicitor Matthew O'Neill stated that his client had been away on Christmas leave.

Kelly had begun drinking after returning to Kinloss Barracks close to midnight the evening before his offence.

He'd then woken and gone to get something to eat in the mistaken belief that enough time had passed for him to drive.

Mr O'Neill said: "He didn't get very far before the incident. He knows that a ban is inevitable."

Sheriff Robert McDonald said: "It's a lesson that a lot of alcohol takes a long time to clear your system."

Kelly was banned for a year, but told he could get his license back after nine months if he paid for and passed a drink-driving awareness course.

He was also fined £640, payable at £100 a month.