A man who was caught driving at more than twice the drink-drive limit has been banned from holding a licence for at least nine months and fined £200.

William Richard Cairns Meechan, of Sycamore Avenue in Beith, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week and pled guilty to one charge.

Meechan drove a car while he was over the legal drink-drive limit of 22 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath on September 9.

The court heard that police officers on road patrol had cause to stop Meechan’s vehicle on Sharon Street in Dalry. On speaking to him, they detected the smell of alcohol. Meechan, 32, was taken to Saltcoats Police Office and found to have 50 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. He was cautioned and charged.

Meechan’s solicitor Paul Gallacher said: “As a result of his poor judgment he has lost his employment.

“He tells me he was consuming alcohol during the day and wrongly thought in the evening he would be fit to drive. That was a serious misjudgement.”

Sheriff Iona McDonald told Meechan: “I understand you have lost your employment. It’s my view you should be disqualified from holding a licence for a period of one year.”

The sheriff added that Meechan’s disqualification would be reduced by three months on the successful completion of a drink-drive rehabilitation course. She also fined him £200.