Drink-driving meter reader admits charge of dangerous driving following near miss on A68
Last updated 21st Oct 2024
An electricity meter reader caught drink-driving in the Borders while more than four times the legal alcohol limit has been banned from the road for two years.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard David Waugh, from Eyemouth, was making his way home from Oxton on August the 23rd when he was spotted driving erratically.
He pulled out of a junction onto the A68 when it was unsafe - narrowly avoiding a collision with another vehicle, and drove onto the grass verge.
As he continued on his journey, the 58-year-old crossed over both lanes of the road and narrowly avoided another collision before police caught up with him on the A697 at Dod Mill, near Lauder.
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Waugh recorded 104 microgrames of alcohol in his breath when the limit is 22mg.
He previously pled guilty to charges of driving dangerously and while under the influence, and returned to Jedburgh Sheriff Court for sentence today (Monday).
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The court heard Waugh, who has previous convictions for careless driving and being drunk in charge of a vehicle, had turned to alcohol following a family tragedy.
His solicitor, Ed Hulme, said he was working as a meter reader for an electricity company and, on this occasion, began drinking before making his final journey home.
In addition to the driving disqualification, Sheriff Peter Paterson ordered Waugh, of Coldingham Road, Eyemouth, to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
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