Drink driver who sped on A9 at 120mph is jailed
A drink-driver speeder — caught travelling at 120mph with six passengers in his car — has been jailed for five months and disqualified from driving for five years.
Michael Laverty, who appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday, was almost three-and-a-half times over the alcohol limit on the A9 at Daviot.
The offence occurred in a 70mph area, which locals claim is a disaster waiting to happen due to the frequency of speeding motorists.
Some have called for permanent speed cameras to be installed in a bid to make the area safer.
Laverty was told by Sheriff Margaret Neilson he was "extremely fortunate" not to be involved in an accident.
The 39-year-old engineer admitted speeding on 10th June, with a blood alcohol count of 124mg, the legal limit being 35.
Police used a laser gun to detect the speed of the car at around 8.30pm and stopped Laverty.
"He smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet," said procurator fiscal Ian Smith.
Defence solicitor Eilidh MacDonald said her client, of Ross Place, Rutherglen, had been travelling to Dingwall with work colleagues.
"It was, effectively, his first day back at work after a period of two years," she commented. "He was very much aware of that and had been celebrating excessively."
Sheriff Neilson said she would be failing in her public duty if she did not send him to prison. She explained it was as much a crime as assault or theft and stressed it was extremely serious.
"Drink-driving at that level of intoxication at 120 miles per hour renders me almost speechless," added the sheriff.
"This court has the misfortune to deal with fatal accidents on the A9. You were extremely fortunate you did not kill yourself or your colleagues by your actions."
