An Angus man has avoided going behind bars for his fourth drink-drive offence.
Brian Paton told a sheriff the conviction had “destroyed everything” after the 37-year-old was spotted by police driving slowly round an Arbroath car park with the passenger door of his BMW wide open in a late-night festive season incident.
Police found booze bottles in the back seat of the car after stopping Paton in Arbroath’s Grange Road just before 11pm.
Paton, of Leach Close, Arbroath then gave a false name and date of birth.
He admitted being more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit and providing false details on December 28 last year.
Forfar Sheriff Court was told Paton’s drink drive record included two convictions in 2002 and another in 2011. He was also previously convicted of driving whilst disqualified.
Solicitor Billy Rennie said his client’s mental health situation had contributed to his difficulties, but a significant degree of support was now in place.
Sheriff Derek Reekie said: “You haven’t legitimately been able to drive, other than for a matter of months, in the last ten years.
“Your record for driving offences is absolutely horrific.
“The only thing that can be said for you is that the reading is not the worst we’ve seen.
“I have a custodial option, but it is only six months and with the discount I have to give you would serve only a very short sentence.”
Paton was placed on a six-month tagging order confining him to his home from 7pm to 7am daily, banned from the road for four years and fined £400.