An amateur jockey will avoid being saddled with a jail term despite getting behind the wheel when almost four times the legal drink-drive limit and just days after a previous drink-driving ban ran out.
James Alexander, 49, swerved all over the A92 in north east Fife for almost a mile and was so intoxicated he could not speak or walk properly when he was approached by police.
A mother and daughter first spotted Alexander wandering around his stationary vehicle on the busy road.
Drunken Alexander then got behind the wheel and began driving erratically, swerving on to the other side of the road and indicating left when he was turning right.
The concerned mother contacted the police and pursued Alexander, who eventually stopped after turning off the A92, at which point she was able to take his keys.
Depute fiscal Susan Ruta said: “He pulled in at the Luthrie junction and the two witnesses pulled in behind him.
“They went over and noted all the windows were open but there was a strong smell of alcohol.
“One of them took the keys from the ignition.
“It was noted that the accused could hardly focus or speak. He was saying he just wanted to get home to his family.
“Police arrived and took him out of his vehicle and he was unsteady on his feet.”
At Dundee Sheriff Court, Sheriff Elizabeth Munro deferred sentence until July 29 but said Alexander would not face jail despite his previous conviction.
She said: “This was a week after his disqualification was finished it’s really pretty shocking given the reading.
“However, I’ve come to the conclusion that I do not require to send him to custody.”
Alexander, of Luthrie, near Cupar, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with 139 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath on May 18.
His agent described Alexander as “an alcoholic” who would have no difficulty staying at home because he is an amateur jockey.