Motorist caught while six times the drink-drive limit

A Perthshire man was caught in a car with the engine still running while more than six times over the legal limit drink-driving limit

Now he faces a lengthy driving ban - and the prospect of the vehicle, a 2002 Toyota Yaris hatchback - being forfeited.

Thirty-one-year-old Scott Tulloch, of Ochil Place, Crieff, appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court on Thursday last week.

He admitted that on December 29 in Corlundy Crescent, Crieff, he was in charge of a car with 144 microgrammes of alcohol on his breath.

The legal limit is 22.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said the registered keeper of the vehicle is the accused’s partner’s grandfather.

“The value we have for the car is about £1000,”he added.

“He was found in the vehicle with the engine running.”

Solicitor Billy Sommerville said the Tulloch used the vehicle to travel back and forward to his work in Perth.

If the vehicle, which was estimated to be worth £500, was seized, that would cause his client“difficulties”.

Sheriff Gillian Wade noted the accused has previous convictions for driving dangerously and driving with excess alcohol in his system.

She told the accused:“I am going to defer sentence for the preparation of a Community Justice Social Work report to ensure all sentencing options are open to the court, standing your record.”

And she warned him:“That doesn’t preclude a period of imprisonment, given the reading.”

She granted the Crown motion for seizure of the vehicle and disqualified him from driving meantime. He was freed on bail meantime. The Crown is expected to table a motion for the forfeiture of the car when the accused returns to court for sentence on January 27.

Tulloch was put on probation for a year - and disqualified for 12 months - in 2001 for drink driving and other motoring offences.