Lawyer Scott Laidlaw pleads guilty to drink driving more than twice the legal limit
An Adelaide lawyer, who blew more than twice the legal limit after attending an awards night, has avoided a conviction because it would have “ramifications” for his legal career.
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A lawyer who blew more than twice the legal limit after a night out has escaped conviction because it would affect his career.
Scott Sutherland Laidlaw, 33, through his lawyer, pleaded guilty to driving with excess blood alcohol in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Police said Laidlaw, who is the principal of Matthew Mitchell Solicitors, blew 0.114 around 3.30am at South Plympton on January 16 after being pulled over in his BMW.
He has already served a six-month loss of licence.
Seven other people faced drinking driving charges in the same court – only one of whom avoided conviction.
Laidlaw’s lawyer, Mr Almeida, said his client did not attend court because he had not received a summons but saw his own name on the court list.
He said Laidlaw was “deeply embarrassed at finding himself before the court he usually practices in”.
Mr Almeida said Laidlaw had been diagnosed with chronic idiopathic hypersomnia just before the incident, which he described as “just short of, effectively, narcolepsy”.
He said Laidlaw was put on Modafinil, a narcolepsy drug, which “suppressed his appetite” and “dulled the effects of alcohol so he couldn’t really tell how affected he was”.
He said his client had been to an awards night in the city and drunk “about six or seven pints” and was “so shocked” at the reading he opted to have a blood test.
Mr Almeida said Laidlaw did legal aid work in the youth court, which required clearance to work with children, and a drink driving conviction would “significantly impact” his ability to do his job.
He also said Laidlaw wanted to travel to Canada with his partner, which would be difficult with a conviction.
Police opposed a conviction not being recorded.
Magistrate Kym Millard said a conviction would have “ongoing ramifications” for Laidlaw’s work as a lawyer.
Mr Millard said the incident was “an error of judgment made by an honourable person”.
Laidlaw was fined $900 and disqualified from driving for a further 24 hours.