An Angus high school physics teacher has been banned from the road for a year following a drink-driving offence.
John Henderson of Arbroath High School had been drinking late into the night and blew almost three times the legal alcohol limit when challenged by road police over a faulty light on his car last month.
The 50-year-old, of Brook Street, Monifieth, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted driving while over the limit on the A92 Arbroath to Dundee road, near Muirdrum, on September 3.
The court heard Henderson gave a roadside reading of 63 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath, with the legal limit being 22 mics.
A later, lower reading at Arbroath Police Station measured 58mics, which Henderson admitted.
The court heard the matter had already been referred to the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
Depute fiscal Joanne Smith said: “At 8.50am police officers saw the accused driving his vehicle.
“They required to stop him for a minor light defect.
“On speaking to the accused they could smell alcohol.”
Henderson’s defence agent, Anne Duffy, told the court that the £44,000-a-year teacher had been drinking “vodka and coke while he made his tea” the night before he was stopped.
Ms Duffy added that he was “shocked” at the reading and had “miscalculated” when believing that he was able to drive the next morning.
The court heard that first offender Henderson had a clean licence and had been driving since the age of 17.
She added: “He is to appear in front of the GTCS for this offence and disciplinary action may be taken by his employer.”
Ms Duffy asked for Sheriff Pino Di Emidio to consider her client’s eligibility for a drink-drive rehabilitation programme, but the sheriff said this would not be suitable for “an educated person” like Henderson.
The court heard that the accused had made arrangements to lift-share with fellow teachers, but a ban would have a “massive impact” on his family life.
In fining Henderson £550, the sheriff told the accused: “You may face other proceedings.
“You appear as a first offender and have spent a considerable number of years without coming to the attention of the authorities.”