Former top officer in Met is banned for a year over A9 drink-driving

A retired senior police officer has been banned from the roads after being caught drink driving.

Norman MacKenzie, 60, was stopped earlier this month after police spotted him driving erratically on the A9 Inverness to Thurso road. Mackenzie had served 30 years with the Metropolitan Police in London, rising to head the firearms branch, before becoming welfare officer at Northern Constabulary in 2001.

He retired in January.

Depute fiscal Heather Swan told Inverness Sheriff Court that MacKenzie was stopped on the evening of 8 July as he tried to negotiate a roundabout.

The former officer, of Inverness, admitted being over the drink limit when he appeared before Sheriff Ian Abercrombie.

Defence solicitor Willie Young said: "MacKenzie is extremely ashamed at this and has never committed an offence in his long and distinguished career in the police.

"He had been at a luncheon earlier and doesn't normally drink, but did consume some alcohol before driving later on.

"He has since retired from his part-time role with Highland Victim Support as well as with the Police Dependants' Trust at Auchterarder, which helps the families of officers killed or injured."

As well being banned for a year, MacKenzie was fined 300.