Aviemore chef almost killed himself in drink drive smash
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An unemployed chef began drinking heavily after the death of his partner and almost killed himself by crashing his car and sustaining bad injuries.
John Clark, of Strathspey Avenue, Aviemore appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted driving on March 27 2022 near Avielochan with excess alcohol.
His reading from a blood test was 252cgs of alcohol when the legal limit is 50mcgs.
Defence solicitor Rory Gowans told Sheriff Gary Aitken: "There were difficulties in his life and he was drowning his sorrows.
"His wife passed away a short time before and he was struggling.
"He has not driven since. He was badly injured in the crash and knows it was his own doing."
Clark, (65), was fined £840 and banned from driving for 18 months.
However, he will qualify for a four month discount if he successfully completes a drink driver rehabilitation course.
Sheriff Aitken told him: "It is a matter of pure luck you are still here. You could have killed yourself or worse still you could have killed someone else.
"Whatever difficulties there were at the time, alcohol does not make them any better."
