A 31-year-old man who was being hunted by police after he was reported missing was found by an off-duty officer – sitting drunk in his car.
Yesterday, Ben Pirie admitted being drunk in charge of the vehicle in Inverness Retail Park on June 5 and was jailed for four months at Inverness Sheriff Court.
It was his third drink driving related offence.
Pirie, of Milton Duff, Elgin, went missing on June 4 and family and friends launched a social media campaign to find him.
Police were also informed as he was regarded as a “vulnerable person” following the break-up of his marriage.
But a sharp-eyed policeman saw Pirie in his car near Tesco supermarket, almost 40 miles from his home, and recognised him as a missing person.
The court heard that he went over to the vehicle to investigate and saw Pirie sitting low in his seat with the window open.
Fiscal depute David Morton said the officer also thought Pirie was drunk and informed his colleague.
Mr Morton added: “A road-side breath test was done which showed he was over the limit. The machine wwas not operating back at the station and blood was taken.
“It gave a reading which was six times the legal limit for driving.”
Defence solicitor Duncan Henderson told Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood: “This came at a time when he was at a low ebb.
“His marriage had broken down, he was homeless and he had lost contact with his children. His family were very concerned for his welfare.
“He realises he is in a serious situation because of his two previous convictions, but he has stopped drinking and has sought help from his GP.”
Jailing Pirie, the Sheriff told him: “While I may have sympathy for your personal matters, I have to protect the public.
“You were in charge of a car with no guarantee that you wouldn’t drive it and you have two previous convictions for driving with excess alcohol. Only a jail sentence is appropriate.”
