A Moray lorry driver has lost his job after being caught nearly five times the drink-drive limit in his car.
Residents of Thornhill Drive in Elgin called the police after growing concerned about a silver Mitsubishi that was parked in a bus stop for several hours with the headlights on.
When officers attended they found Jason O’Shea in the driver’s seat inside and knocked on the window, before opening the door and pulling out the keys themselves.
At Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday, the 48-year-old pleaded guilty to being drunk while in charge of a car on October 21.
Fiscal depute Alex Swain said police found an empty bottle of cider on the passenger’s seat. Breath tests later found that O’Shea had 119 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath – the legal limit is 22mcg.
Defence solicitor Matthew O’Neill said his client had driven about 300 yards from a friend’s house before realising he was too drunk to continue.
He said: “He got as far as a bus stop and realised he wasn’t fit to continue so pulled over with the intention of sleeping in the vehicle. Initially he turned the engine off but then turned it on as it got colder, clearly it’s caused some concern for people close-by.
“His employment will be lost to him, he’s suspended at the moment. He works as a HGV driver so clearly a licence is required.”
O’Shea, of Back Park near Mulben, was banned for 14 months and fined £500.
