Man with previous was six times limit
A man with a previous conviction for drink/ driving was caught behind the wheel with almost six times the legal booze limit.
Despite the high reading, 39-year-old Alan Johnston, of South Street, Milnathort, was spared a jail sentence when he appeared for sentence at Perth Sheriff Court this week.
But the self-employed landscaper paid a heavy price when he was disqualified for 36 months - and his Saab Vector was forfeited.
He will also have to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work and will be supervised by a social worker for a year.
He admitted driving in Green Road, Kinross, on July 13 this year with 126 microgrammes of alcohol on his breath.
The maximum allowed is 22 microgrammes.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said the accused was stopped by police for a routine documents check about 7.45pm.
“When he got out it was clear he was unsteady on his feet and when he spoke to the officer she could detect a strong smell of alcohol on his breath.”
He failed a roadside breath test and when further checks were carried out at the police station, the reading in the charge was given.
Solicitor David Holmes said the estimated value of the car was £800 and his client didn’t challenge the forfeiture motion.
He appreciated it was a“high reading”but had sought help and had spent a week in Perth’s Murray Royal Hospital.
That had followed separation from his partner.
“Because of his job, disqualification will have a marked effect on him.”
SheriffWilliamWood told Johnston that because of the reading he had given“serious consideration”to jailing him.
But taking into account the steps he had taken to“sort himself out”- and the fact his previous conviction was in 2009 - he was prepared to impose the community payback order as a“direct alternative”to prison.
The accused, who had brought a bag with him to court, had the ban backdated to August 2 when an interim disqualification had been imposed.