An offshore worker who was pulled over by police while smelling strongly of alcohol refused to provide a breath sample.
John Cairney, 53, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court over the incident after being stopped on the city’s Portland Street yesterday morning.
Depute fiscal Alan Townsend told the court: “Around 1.25am on November 28 police officers saw the Chevrolet Cruze being driven at the locus.
“The vehicle was stopped and the accused was found to be the driver.
“There was a strong smell of alcohol emanating from him and he was slurring his words.”
Mr Townsend said police stopped the car as it was being driven in a “slow, deliberate manner” coming close to the kerb and also crossing a white line.
He added: “The accused refused to provide specimens as requested by the police.
“He was then cautioned and charged.”
Cairney pled guilty to failing to provide two specimens of breath without reasonable excuse at Kittybrewster Police Office.
Defence agent Stuart Beveridge said: “He works in the offshore industry. He’d come up to Aberdeen to start a new job.
“He’d forgotten to arrange bed and breakfast accommodation for himself.”
Mr Beveridge said his client had “decided to spend the night in his car” and had “stupidly decided to move his car somewhere quieter”.
He added: “When I asked why he didn’t co-operate with the police he said he panicked and realised he would have failed the test.”
Sheriff Ian Wallace banned Cairney, of Eriboll Crescent, Glasgow, from driving for 14 months and ordered him to pay a fine of £800.