A man is facing jail after admitting his third offence of driving under the influence on an Angus road.
Robert Paul Watters appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on Tuesday and admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs in Newbigging last year.
The court heard the 40-year-old had a “recent” drink-driving conviction and was banned when police interviewed him after he got behind the wheel of a silver Kia without a licence on July 12.
Watters pled guilty when he appeared for trial before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown, who deferred sentence for background reports after previous convictions were admitted by his solicitor.
Defence agent Anne Duffy said: “Your ladyship will see that there is a recent, directly analogous conviction and a drink-driving conviction.
“Given that this is his third conviction for fitness to drive, your ladyship will require reports.
“He was released on bail with the condition that he would sign on at the police headquarters in Dundee, but it would be asked that this be changed to his new home in Aberdeen.”
Watters, formerly of The Fiddlers, Monikie and now of Elmbank Road, Aberdeen, admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs in Pitarlie Road on July 12 2016, driving without motor insurance and without a valid licence.
Watters’ not guilty plea to a fourth charge, of failing to give details to a police officer at 1.30pm on July 12, was accepted by the Crown.
He also admitted a charge of failing to appear on a subsequent court date.
In Scotland a drink driving offence brings an minimum 12-month ban from driving and a fine of up to £5,000.
The court can also impose a maximum one-year period of imprisonment for repeat offenders.
Sheriff Martin-Brown said: “I’ll defer sentence on you in order to obtain a criminal justice social work report and I will disqualify you from driving in the interim.”
Watters will appear on July 13. His bail was continued.
