A man who was caught driving while he was almost four times the legal limit has been described in court as ”tragic”.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis criticised Robert Douglas for ”succumbing” to the pressures of an alcohol problem.
The 53-year-old was stopped by police on Sunday January 8 as he drove around Perth, the city’s sheriff court heard on Wednesday.
When they detected the smell of drink on his breath, the officers quizzed the accused, who admitted having had a drink several minutes previously.
Around 20 minutes later, officers were able to carry out a breath test which proved positive, with a later procedure which was conducted at divisional headquarters in Perth revealing a level of 136mics of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mics.
A check into Douglas’ history also uncovered that he had been driving without a licence, having been disqualified for two years nine months earlier.
Solicitor Paul Ralph told the court his client had been driving his mother’s car, as she was in hospital at the time of the incident.
”He is very concerned and disappointed that he finds himself involved in this matter at this stage of his life,” Mr Ralph said.
Douglas, whose address was given as Broomfield Walk in Kirkintilloch, admitted that on January 8 at Tay Street, South Street and Watergate, he drove or attempted to drive a vehicle with excess alcohol (136 mics).
Douglas also admitted that, on the same date and at the same locations, he drove while disqualified and without insurance.
In jailing Douglas for six months, Sheriff Foulis said that he ”posed a risk” to others because of the level of alcohol he had consumed.
The sheriff also disqualified him from holding or obtaining a licence for eight years.