A lorry driver who risked lives on the killer A9 by taking to the wheel while under the influence of alcohol has been jailed for four months.
Christopher Hazlett (47) was found to be almost three times the legal limit by police officers who stopped him as he drove between Perth and Stirling.
After hearing that he had been in ”control” of a goods vehicle heavily laden with around £100,000 worth of waste paper, a sheriff told him the consequences of his actions could have been ”horrific”.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that, after the incident, Hazlett had been made redundant and had been forced to recognise the depth of his problems with alcohol misuse.
Hazlett had spent the evening before his arrest drinking with family and friends as he planned a birthday bash for his son.
He was still almost three times the legal alcohol limit when he started work the next day and smelling strongly of alcohol.
That swiftly alerted the attention of people he came into contact with during the course of his work and they were concerned enough to contact the police.
Officers waited by the A9 and saw his vehicle driving past before following and stopping him.
They detected a strong smell of alcohol and he gave positive breath tests at the roadside and at the police station in Perth.’Sought access’Hazlett, of Cona Park, Banknock, near Kilsyth, appeared at court in Perth to admit driving on the A9 on January 19 with excess alcohol (90 mics). The legal limit is 35 mics.
Solicitor Cheryl Clark told the court her client who had been driving professionally for 26 years without incident had struggled with alcohol in recent times, turning to drink during times of stress.
”This court case has helped him to gain greater awareness of the need to treat his problem,” Ms Clark said.
”He has sought assistance from his GP and has joined an alcohol project, which has helped him to see a counsellor.
”He has abstained from alcohol since this incident.”
Ms Clark added that Hazlett was aware of the seriousness of his offence.
She asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence but Sheriff Michael Fletcher said the seriousness of the offence made it impossible. Hazlett was also banned from driving for three years.
”Driving when having consumed too much alcohol is treated seriously by the courts, but this was an offence of driving a heavy goods vehicle, fully laden, while almost three times the legal limit,” he said.
”The consequences of driving a vehicle such as this while in such a state could have been horrific.”