Drinks driver had never held a licence

May 21 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A TEENAGER who had never held a licence took a late-night drive in a van while over the legal drink drive limit.

Tommy Devine had been at a friend’s house drinking with his cousin.

In the course of the evening his cousin had given his van keys to a friend.

Devine got hold of the keys and decided to drive the van a short distance to a nearby garage.

But the van being driven by the 17-year-old was spotted by police just after 3.30am on West Main Street, Blackburn.

The officers noticed that the vehicle didn’t have its headlights on and signalled for him to stop.

After he pulled over he was spoken to by the officers who noted that he smelled of alcohol.

Devine then told the police officers he had no licence or insurance and he was subsequently given a roadside breath test.

He gave a reading of 55 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath — 20mg over the legal limit of 35mg per 100ml.

Last week at Linlithgow Sheriff Court, Devine, whose address was given as Redhouse Place, Blackburn, pled guilty to the offences that took place on March 27 this year.

His solicitor, Alan Jackson, told the court his client had fully cooperated with the police throughout and had told them he was sorry for the offence.

Fining Devine £300 and banning him from the roads for 18 months sheriff Douglas Kinloch said: “Driving without a licence or insurance and under the influence of alcohol was very irresponsible behaviour,” said the sheriff.

“The minimum ban for these offences is one year but in all the circumstances I think there needs to be a ban for 18 months.”