A boozed-up BMW driver gave one of the highest drink-drive readings seen in a Scottish court when he finally pulled his bottle-strewn car into an Angus layby.
Bogdan Paciorek had been followed by a convoy of concerned motorists as he weaved along almost 50 miles of the A90 trunk road road.
Paciorek had been heading from Aberdeen to Edinburgh following a drinking session in the granite city and was still almost eight times the legal limit when police breathalysed him.
The reading came nearly two hours after alarmed fellow drivers first reported his erratic progress down the busy dual carriageway between Stonehaven and Forfar.
A stunned sheriff told the 46-year-old the “extraordinarily high” count would have left the joiner with a capacity to drive which was “virtually nil”.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard Paciorek, of Pieresfield Terrace, Edinburgh was first spotted on the southbound A90 at Stonehaven around 7.30pm on March 23, swerving across the carriageway and colliding with the verge.
He carried on in his silver BMW, but his erratic driving and changing speed led a following car to remain behind the vehicle and contact police.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court he was then seen driving slowly with his hazard warning lights on by at least two other concerned motorists a number of miles further south, near Northwaterbridge.
“A lorry driver who was overtaken by the car was concerned about the manner of driving and also contacted police,” added the fiscal.
“At Muiryfaulds, near Forfar, the accused pulled into a lay-by, followed by witnesses concerned about his driving.
“Police officers attended and found vodka and whisky bottles in the vehicle,” the fiscal added.
Paciorek was taken to Dundee police headquarters where he gave a lower breath alcohol reading of 173 microgrammes – the legal limit is 22.
He previously admitted drink-driving on the A90 on March 23.
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The court earlier heard he had been banned from driving for two years following an appearance at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in August for a similar offence.
Sheriff Derek Reekie told the joiner he had put himself at serious risk of going to prison.
“Two hours after you started driving, you are still eight times the limit,” said the sheriff.
“It is an extraordinarily high reading and it is self-evident that your capacity to drive is not only serious impaired, it is virtually nil.
“That is supported by the fact that at least three or four other road users, in the interest of the safety of themselves and others, followed you until you stopped.
“You have driven on a busy road at a busy time and the court must give serious consideration to a custodial option,” said the sheriff.
“You are a working man with a limited record, so in the circumstances I am prepared to draw back from that,” added Sheriff Reekie.
He ordered Paciorek to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work under a year-long Community Payback Order and disqualified him from driving for 30 months.
