A man seeking asylum in Scotland was caught drink-driving after being found unconscious in his car.
Chen Youli, 35, was discovered by police officers sleeping at the wheel of his vehicle on the A96 Elgin to Forres road in Alves.
He is currently residing in Nairn, has lived in Scotland for over ten years, and has applied for asylum in the country.
Police were called to an incident at around 5am on Wednesday July 11 after reports of a car being parked in a bus stop with its lights on at full beam.
Mr Youli was seen slumped over in the vehicle and had been sick while he was asleep.
When breathalysed, he was found to be more than twice the legal limit.
Mr Youli had been out drinking in Elgin with friends, and had slept in one of their houses during the night.
He then woke up the next day and decided to drive home from the house beside the Eight Acres Hotel.
At Elgin Sheriff Court, Procurator Fiscal Kevin Corrins described the moment the police woke Mr Youli up.
He said: “Police attended the scene and discovered the driver was slumped over at the wheel, with the engine still running.
“He was woken up, and officers could smell a strong stench of alcohol and he was unsteady on his feet. He provided a breath sample and was found to have 55 miligrams of alcohol in his breath.”
Mr Youli’s defence solicitor, Matthew O’Neill, said his client had “taken a chance” in driving home while still under the influence.
He added: “He felt OK when he woke up at his friend’s house and took the chance of getting behind the wheel. He then realised he was in no fit state to drive and pulled over into the bus stop.
“Mr Youli is currently working with a solicitor in the central belt to claim asylum in this country, and this case could negatively affect that.”
Sheriff Chris Dickson took into account Mr Youli’s guilty plea when he sentenced him to a 12-month driving disqualification and a £400 fine, to be paid at £50 per month.
