A 19-year-old from Macduff, Arran Gary Paterson, has been charged with drug-driving after being found unfit to operate his vehicle on the A98 on June 23, 2024. Paterson was discovered parked in a layby when police were attending an unrelated incident at around 8.15 am. According to Fiscal depute Ann Mann, when police approached him, they observed that he was “unsteady on his feet,” had “slurred” speech, and was exhibiting “involuntary shaking movements.”

During the encounter, Paterson admitted to having consumed a synthetic stimulant known as mephedrone, or MCAT. Following roadside tests for alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine, all of which returned negative results, he was taken to a police station for further assessment, which he failed. A medical examiner determined that Paterson was indeed unfit to drive.

Paterson appeared at Banff Sheriff Court, where he pled guilty to driving under the influence of drugs. His solicitor, Stuart Beveridge, described the incident as a “foolish mistake” and noted that this was Paterson’s first offence. Beveridge also noted that Paterson is unemployed, lives with his parents, and does not have any source of income, which led him to request a community payback order instead of a monetary fine.

Beveridge recounted the circumstances leading to the incident, stating that Paterson had been at a friend’s house the previous night and had taken MCAT for the first time. He explained that, upon feeling unwell while driving, Paterson made the decision to pull over and park.

Sheriff Robert McDonald acknowledged Paterson’s explanation during the proceedings and subsequently banned him from driving for one year. Additionally, a community payback order was imposed, requiring Paterson to complete 80 hours of unpaid work within a six-month timeframe, with a reduction in hours granted for his guilty plea.

Source: Noah Wire Services