AN electrical engineer was caught over the drinks-driving limit while on his way to service a police station’s breath test machine, a court heard.

Richard Grant, of Steeple’s View, Troon, was fined £250 and banned from driving for a year on Tuesday, December 5.

He had denied the offence but was found guilty after a trial.

The 55-year-old was pulled over by police at a car park on the south side of Berriedale Braes, about 9.30am on April 13, 2015, 

They took the step after having observed him veering over the centre white line of the A9, on several occasions.

They got “a very strong smell of drink” when they opened the door of his Vauxhall car and a roadside breath test proved positive.

Grant was arrested and driven the 26 miles to Wick police station.

Giving evidence at the town’s sheriff court, earlier this year, the constables said they were faced with a dilemma given the “unusual” circumstances of the case.

Grant had told them he serviced most of the intoximeters in Scotland and was on his way to work on the station’s device.

The police took the view that there might be “a conflict of interests” or “a problem”.

A police sergeant and the local procurator shared their concern and it was decided to take a urine sample which revealed a level of 92mg of alcohol. 

The permitted level is 67mg.

Giving his verdict, Sheriff Andrew Berry described the case as ‘unusual’.

He said it had “made absolute common sense” not to use the intoximeter - the standard follow-up to the positive roadside test - and made the point that the fact that Grant was due to calibrate the device might indicate that it was not working properly.

The Sheriff commended the two police officers for being “completely fair” in their approach to the situation, given the “unusual scenario”.

Sheriff Berry disagreed with a defence suggestion that the police officers had not followed the correct procedure for taking the urine sample, saying: “They did everything by the book.”

William Mackay said that Grant, a first offender, had miscalculated the amount of alcohol he had consumed earlier and thought he was fit to drive.

The Glasgow solicitor said that disqualification would have a direct impact on the accused’s livelihood given that his work which took him all over Scotland.

Grant was deemed suitable to take the drinks-drivers rehabilitation course If he completes it successfully, it will reduce his driving ban by three months.