Accused took bends on wrong side

Actions could have had "serious consequences"
A MAN, who drove round two bends on the wrong side of the road, overtaking on one of them, was under the influence of sleeping tablets and went on to repeatedly cross the centre line.
Christopher Billing,58, was said at Wick Sheriff Court, yesterday, to remember "little or nothing" about his erratic escapade which, at one point, involved him in travelling on his opposite side of the road for 200 metres.
Billing admitted a charge of dangerous driving and was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community and banned from driving for 21 months.
The court heard that, after taking the first sharp bend on the wrong side of the road, in George Street, Wick, on May 13, Billing headed out of town, on the A99, repeatedly crossing the white line near the entrance to the local Tesco store and went on to overtake a car on another blind bend near the hamlet of Reiss. He then proceeded to stay on the opposite lane for about 200 metres, before returning to his own side..
David Barclay, prosecuting, said that Billing, of 20 Ardconnel Street, Inverness, would have had no way of telling if there were any vehicles was coming round the blind bends - although fortunately that was not the case.
The senior fiscal depute added that the alarm was raised by a driver, overtaken by the accused, who contacted the police. They were so concerned about his mental well-being that they detained the unemployed electrician, overnight.
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that Billing, who previously lived in Orkney, had taken too many sleeping tablets during a period of "domestic difficulties" which had affected him badly.
Ms MacDonald added: "They caused drowsieness but he is unable to expand on why he got into his car."
She added that the accused had addressed his domestic difficulties, and got his life back on track, with the support of his family, in Inverness. He intended getting a job after resolving his mental health difficulties.
Sheriff J Rafferty told Billing that his actions could have had "dire consequences" not only for himself, but for drivers approaching from the opposite direction. The offence, he added, had to be marked by a substantial period of disqualification, in addition to his community service.
Billing will also require to resit his driving test once the driving ban ends.