A wedding planner found in his parked car was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.
Mark Evans was found in the driver’s seat of the 2008 Toyota Rav, which was parked on an unclassified road between Murthly and Gauls of Murthly.
Also in the vehicle was an open bottle of gin.
At Perth Sheriff Court yesterday the 57-year-old claimed he had been stopped for some time before being found by police and that he planned to bed down for the night in the vehicle after a row with his wife.
He said that when he spent the night in his car, as he had done before, it was his habit to sleep in the driver’s seat, rather than on the passenger side, as his car was often filled with equipment.
Evans, of Wylie Court, Perth, told depute fiscal Jim Eodonable that losing his licence would have an impact on his marriage as his wife’s health meant she relied on him driving for business purposes.
Defence solicitor John Mclaughlin said there was no indication that Evans had driven the car around the time he was detained as the engine was cold.
Evans was found guilty of being in charge of the vehicle with a breath alcohol reading of 76mics. The legal limit is 35mics.
Sheriff Kenneth McGowan fined Evans £700 and disqualified him from the road for 12 months.