Drunk man hit himself on head with axe whilst camping in Aviemore area….

A camping trip in Aviemore, an axe and a bottle of Buckfast cost a 38 year old Dumbarton man his driving licence for a year and a £640 fine.

Darren Buckley of Taylor Street, Renton had been staying in the area on October 15, 2024 when he drank the fortified wine and decided to cut some wood for his fire with an axe.

But the drunken holidaymaker hit his head with the tool, suffered a cut and then drove the 31 miles to Inverness’ Raigmore Hospital's casualty department for treatment.

Fiscal depute Victoria Silver told Sheriff Gary Aitken that a nurse who tended to his wounds was concerned that Buckley who was unsteady on his feet, would drive back to Aviemore and alerted the police.

He was stopped on Old Perth Road outside the hospital and an analysis of a blood sample showed he was almost four times the legal limit of 50mcgs of alcohol in his system. His reading was 199mcgs.

He admitted drunk driving but the Sheriff certified him suitable for a drink driver rehabilitation course which, if he successfully completes it, will earn him a three month discount on his disqualification.

Sheriff Aitken told Buckley: "Swinging an axe about while you are drunk does not seem a good idea, nor does then driving yourself to hospital after hitting yourself on the head with it."