A whisky distillery worker has been banned from driving for three years after getting behind the wheel while more than five times the legal alcohol limit.
Jon Murray, from Rothes, was caught driving his Vauxhall Astra erratically along West Tullos Road in Aberdeen at 2.45am on Thursday, September 28.
The 47-year-old appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday to be sentenced, where his lawyer said worries about the security of his job had caused him to turn to drink.
Fiscal, Stuart Wright, explained that the way Murray had been operating the car had caused police some concern.
Mr Wright said: “The car was seen to be driven slowly and veered towards the nearside verge.
“The police officers pulled the accused over and performed a roadside breath test which confirmed that he was over the limit.”
Murray, who lives on New Street in the Speyside village, admitted a charge of driving a vehicle after drinking so much that he had 112microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 22mcg per 100ml of breath.
Representing the accused, defence agent Paul Barnett, said that he had no previous convictions and was aghast at his own actions.
Mr Barnett added: “My client is very ashamed to be in court, and accepts that this is a serious offence because of the level of the reading involved.
“He is going through a difficult time, with some uncertainty surrounding his employment.
“Since the incident in question, he has been diagnosed as having depression.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin ordered the accused to remain under supervision for six months, and to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
She also disqualified Murray from driving for three years, but allowed that the ban could be reduced by six months if he completes a drink-driving rehabilitation programme.
The sheriff refused a Crown motion for the Astra, said to be worth £550, to be forfeited.
