An alcoholic who drove on the A9 while more than three times the legal drink-drive limit has been jailed for four months.
Robert Marshall, of Arbroath, had only been back on the road for a matter of months after serving a driving ban and completing a drink-driver rehabilitation course.
The 47-year-old was told he could easily have caused an accident and had endangered the lives of other road users.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that after a weekend with friends in Glasgow, during which he consumed what a sheriff described as ”a bucket-load” of alcohol, he made the decision to drive home.
Having taken a four-hour break from drinking, Marshall flooded his system with water in the vain hope that the alcohol would be flushed out of his system.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis expressed disbelief that a man who had just completed the Vernon Manfield driver awareness course could have believed he was fit to drive.
Moreover, the court heard Marshall had bought more alcohol before setting out on his journey to Angus ”in case he got the shakes.”
He apparently then consumed the purchased cider and quarter bottle of vodka while behind the wheel.
Motorists travelling on the A9 on Sunday October 16 made a number of calls to police, so concerned were they by the manner of his driving.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson told the court: ”Mr Marshall’s vehicle was swerving about the carriageway and other motorists suspected something was wrong with him. Police officers arrived just in time to see Mr Marshall pull his vehicle into a layby.
”He was clearly drunk and rolling about in the front footwell were some cans that had once contained cider. An empty quarter bottle of vodka was also found within the vehicle.”
Marshall (47), of Cottons Corner, Letham Grange, Arbroath, admitted that on October 16 this year, on the A9 Stirling to Perth road, he drove a car with excess alcohol (118 mics). The legal limit is 35 mics.
Sheriff Foulis jailed the accused for four months, telling him that the courts had to send a message to those who repeatedly drive while under the influence. He also banned Marshall from driving for the next six years and ordered him to re-sit the extended driving test.