A motorist who was stopped while more than seven times the drink drive limit in Moray has been warned he faces a prison sentence.
David McLachlan, of Brodie Place in Elgin, was reported by a concerned member of the public at about 3pm on September 27.
Police were called to the B9089 Kinloss to Burghead road due to concerns about how the 59-year-old was driving a van.
Breath tests on the joiner later found that he had 155mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 22mcg.
Yesterday McLachlan appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court after admitting a charge of drink driving while behind the wheel of his brother-in-law’s van, which he used for work.
Defence solicitor Iain Maltman said: “He had bought a bottle of vodka for the purposes of drinking when he returned home but he didn’t wait that long, which has led to the very high reading.”
He added: “He had an accident about two years ago and as a result has very serious back problems, which cause him persistent pain.
“He takes medication daily but has turned to alcohol to self-medicate on top of that.”
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov said: “With a reading like this, custody has to be the starting point of sentencing options.”
Sentence was deferred until November 29 for reports to be prepared.
