A Forfar man has been banned from the road for ten years for his third drink-driving offence.
Neil Douglas was also ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work as part of an 18-month Community Payback Order at Forfar Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Kevin Veal told him the public interest would be better served by continuing supervision rather than a short jail term.
Douglas was described in court as a hard-working and valued employee of a car body repair firm, but a binge drinker whose relationship with alcohol had led him to the verge of imprisonment.
The 29-year-old, of Threewells Drive, admitted driving in the town’s Old Halkerton Road on November 6 with excess alcohol (111 mics) and driving carelessly causing his car to collide with a stationary vehicle.
Defence agent Nick Markowski said: ”He is aware he is going to be disqualified for a substantial period and is aware a custodial sentence will be considred by the court.
”His record is all alcohol related, but is now 29, in a steady relationship and has a good job,” added the agent, who said weekend binge drinking had led to his previous difficulties.
”His employers, who are here with him today, think a lot of him and have put a bit of investment in him which would be lost if he were to be sent to custody.
”My client would take the opportunity to apologise publicly to the court and the other people in the incident.
”He put the owner of the other vehicle in a hire car and paid £830 out of his own pocket for repairs,” added Mr Markwoski.
”When he is sober and making the right decisions he is a hard-working, conscientious man.”
Sheriff Veal told Douglas: ”I think the public interest is better served by a community-based disposal.
”The effect of imprisonment would be that he would serve a very short sentence and I would like to see something in place to address the issues here.
”There have been two previous convictions for drink-driving and the first was 12 years ago, but this is a serious matter and as an alternative to custody I think the public interest would be better served by a lengthy ban.”
Douglas must also undertake alcohol counselling as part of the CPO and was ordered to resit his driving test at the end of the disqualification.