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Drink-drive ban lifted early
Page 15
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A SCOTTISH truck driver serving a seven-year driving ban for causing a serious accident after drinking whisky had his ban lifted last week.
Thomas Paterson was banned for seven years in 1999 after he crushed a car and its three occupants against a rockface on the Glasgow to Fort William road. Police found an empty half-bottle of whisky in his cab, along with another unopened half-bottle.
Paterson was told in court at the time that it was only good fortune nobody had been killed.
But last week the Sherriff's court at Fort William lifted his ban, which had three-and-a-half years left to run, after it heard that Paterson had completely given up drinking.
The court was also told that Paterson. from Motherwell, had undergone heart by-pass surgery and would never drive a truck again. He has retired and asked for the ban to be lifted to make life easier for himself and his wife during his retirement.