A former professional footballer who was caught driving while more than three times the legal limit has been banned from driving for five years.
John Carling (37), of Elgin Terrace, Dundee, formerly played for Dundee and Arbroath.
He was caught on the A9 Perth to Stirling road after he was seen ”swerving” across the carriageway from one lane to another.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that Carling was pulled in and spoken to by police at Aberuthven.
Depute fiscal Carol Whyte said: ”The accused got out of his car, stumbled and was unsteady on his feet. An officer attempted to put handcuffs on the accused, but he lashed out with his arms and shouted and swore at police.”
The court heard the officers searched Carling’s car and found a half bottle of wine in the vehicle.
Carling’s solicitor, David Holmes, said his client had played football professsionally with Dundee and also passed an MBA at university.
”My client had a good job working down in Leeds, but this involved a lot of travelling,” he said. ”In 2008, he separated from his wife. He had alcohol problems but has been attending TAPS (Tayside Alcohol Problem Service).”
Carling had admitted that on September 11 last year on the A9 Stirling to Perth road, between Auchterarder and Aberuthven, he drove with excess alcohol 140 mics.
He further admitted obstructing officers and attempting to resist arrest by lashing out, shouting and swearing.
Carling was also sentenced to a community payback order, whereby he will have to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.