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Protecting While Intoxicated

April 24, 2012 permalink

Scottish social worker Ian Armstrong has been caught driving with an alcohol level double the legal limit.

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Vulnerable children social worker banned for driving over the limit

Social worker who reported his neighbour for drink-driving banned for doing the same thing.

A social worker who works with vulnerable children has been banned from driving after being caught behind the wheel at nearly double the limit.

Ian Armstrong was caught driving at almost double the legal limit after spending the previous night drinking to celebrate getting a new job.

Armstrong, 44, believed he was safe to drive on his way to work but was found to still be well over the legal limit.

A court was told that Armstrong was celebrating getting a new post which meant he would no longer face a 140-mile round trip to drive to work each day.

Perth Sheriff Court heard he was banned from doing any driving at all for 12 months and fined £500 after he admitted drink-driving.

Armstrong of Abbey Lane, Edinburgh, admitted drink-driving on the M90 between Inverkeithing and Perth at Bridge of Earn on 16 December last year.

Fiscal depute Nicola Manison told the court police officers had been carrying out random checks, which were part of the festive clampdown on drink-driving.

She said Armstrong's vehicle was pulled over and it was immediately apparent that he smelled strongly of alcohol. He then failed a roadside breath test.

Solicitor Richard Freeman, defending, said Armstrong was a social worker who worked with children and had faced a lengthy commute to his job in Dundee.

Mr Freeman said he had been having drinks with a friend the previous evening after getting a new job which meant he would not face such a long commute each day.

He told the court that Armstrong had specifically arranged to use his flexi-time to start work later on 16 December and was on his way to the office when he was stopped around 10am

Mr Freeman added:"He has told me he has strong views about drink-driving and some time ago reported a neighbour of his family who he suspected was drink-driving."

Source: STV (Scotland)

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