A Lochaber man was jailed for a year and banned from driving for 10 years after stealing a delivery van in Inverness while almost four times over the legal drink-drive limit, in a bid to drive home to Lochaber.
The sentence was later welcomed by police who said a potentially serious course of driving had been prevented.
Bryan Garrick, 35, was sacked from his job and had been “drowning his sorrows” before he took the van from the car park of the Maple Court Hotel, in Ballifeary Lane, on Tuesday.
The van was then involved in an accident in Ballifeary Road, before Garrick drove it down Glenuquhart Road and along the A82 between Inverness and Torvean Quarry, before been stopped by police.
Appearing from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday, Garrick, of 4 Torcastle Crescent, Caol, pleaded guilty to driving while more than three times over the legal drink-drive limit.
A breath test showed he had 126mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mcg.
Garrick, who had previous drink-driving convictions, also admitted taking the van without the owner’s consent, driving while disqualified and without insurance.
All the offences were committed while he was on bail.
Fiscal depute Sandy Collie said the van had been left secured by its owner at 8.45am. He said Garrick was seen driving it around 3pm.
Defence solicitor Neil Wilson said Garrick had been sacked on Tuesday for “sleeping in”.
He said: “He decided to drown his sorrows and, rather foolishly, decided to commit these offences.”
Sheriff Derek Pyle told Garrick it would have been 18 months in jail if it was not for his early plea.
Garrick was admonished on the charge of driving without insurance and his licence was endorsed.
Chief Inspector Jim Neil, based in Inverness said: "The quick response of police prevented what had the potential to be a very serious incident. A man with this level of intoxication driving on busy roads, with the intention of driving to Fort William, could have had disastrous consequences. The court has obviously taken into account the gravity of Mr Garrick's actions and the punishment meted to him reflects that."