A DRIVER who drove almost four times over the limit has been banned.

Stephen Fisher was caught by police at around 2am on the morning of March 28 this year after getting behind the wheel, when he was four times over the limit.

The 32-year-old pled guilty to diving with 82 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

The fiscal told the court: “At approximately 2am officers on routine patrol were made aware of a suspected drink driver and were requested to look out for the accused’s vehicle, having been given a description and registration number.

“They detected the vehicle on Kilwinning Road and stopped it on East Road.

“They requested the accused exit the vehicle and he was subject to a roadside breath test which provided a positive result and he was then taken to Saltcoats Police Office.”

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard that Fisher, of Aitken Avenue in Beith, had been struggling with drug and alcohol problems following the breakdown of his 12-year marriage when he got behind the wheel.

Defending Fisher Sandy Currie told the court: “He is a divorced man of 32.

“He lives with his mother now but had lived south of the border for 12 years until his marriage broke up and he moved back here.

“He’s had difficulties with drink and drug problems but he is seeking help and is about to start work in a call centre.”

However Sheriff Craig Harris told Fisher his actions were “utterly unacceptable”.

He fined him £670 and disqualified him for 16 months.