Drove seven times drink limit

A driver returning from alcohol counselling was so drunk that he could not stand when he got out of his car.

Tests showed he was almost seven times over the legal booze limit as he drove home from a meeting with Tayside Council on Alcohol.

The reading, one of the highest ever recorded at Perth Sheriff Court, led to serial drink driver William Buchan, said to down up to five bottles of wine a day, being jailed for eight months.

He was also put off the road for six years and his car, valued at £1400, was ordered to be forfeited.

Pointing out that it was his third drink driving conviction, Sheriff Gillian Wade branded him a “serious risk to the public.”

The 54-year-old, of Balgowan Cottage, Tibbermore, admitted driving with 153 microgrammes of alcohol on the unclassified road between Findo Gask and Balgowan on September 26. The limit is 22.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said the accused was seen by another motorist driving in the middle of the road”

He explained: “There was a small collision and the police were involved.

“He was seen about 4.20pm and was intoxicated to the point he couldn’t stand and fell over.”

Buchan’s lawyer said he was banned for five years in 2007 for drink driving and he had another similar conviction from 2000.

“In a normal day he would be drinking up to five bottles of wine,” explained the lawyer.

Buchan had previously served a custodial sentence but his drinking habits had not changed since his release.

Sheriff Wade said the high reading raised “deep-seated concerns” about his risk to other road users.

The solicitor said Buchan was still able to function with the high level of alcohol because he had been drinking for so long his body had built up a tolerance.

He had gone to Highland House to seek help with his drink problems after they “spiralled out of control”.