Overlimit thenextday

A Stirlingshire man was still almost three times over the legal limit the morning after a heavy drinking session.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that the police were alerted at 8am after concerns were expressed at the way a car was being driven in a chalet park at Glendevon, near Auchterarder.

Twenty year-old Grant Meldrum, of Hilton, Cowie gave a positive breath test - and later tests showed he had been driving with 61 microgrammes of alcohol on his breath.

The maximum allowed is 22 microgrammes.

Solicitor Mike Tavendale said had been at the chalet park for the weekend with his girlfriend and her friends.

They had been drinking the night before but there had been “a fallout of some sort.”

The lawyer added: “He had been told, in no uncertain terms, to leave.

“His car keys and his wallet were thrown out. He had no phone.

“He was left in the middle of nowhere and had gone to his car.”

He had revved the engine and the police had been called by the chalet manager.

First offender Meldrum, who subsequently lost his job as a panel beater, was fined £600 and banned for 18 months after he admitted driving with excess alcohol on November 4.

But if he successfully takes part in a drink/driving rehabilitation course - at his own expense - the ban will be cut by four-and-a-half months.

He was told by the sheriff that he must have consumed a “significant” amount of alcohol.

The accused, who has since obtained another job, will pay the penalty at £30 a week.