A man who drove a car at more than five times the limit and failed to cooperate with police has been fined £1,350 and banned from driving for up to 18 months.

Jason John Connelly, of Middlepart Crescent, Saltcoats, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week for sentencing. Connolly, 23, had previously pled guilty to three charges and sentence had been deferred for reports.

On July 9 at Hayocks Road in Stevenston, Connolly behaved in a threatening or abusive manner in that he shouted, swore and acted aggressively. He also failed without reasonable excuse to cooperate with a breath test by a police constable who reasonably suspected that he had been driving on a road or other public place while having alcohol in his body.

Connolly was later found to have a reading of 113 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit in Scotland is 22 micrograms in 100 millilitres.

Defending Connolly, solicitor Paul Gallacher said: “He accepts full responsibility for this irresponsible behaviour. He made a very bad choice after consuming a vast amount of alcohol with his friends. He deeply regrets his conduct. This is a significant offence on Mr Connolly. Now he has a criminal record – he had no other previous convictions, no other matters outstanding.

“He doesn’t have a problem with drink. He has expressed a very high level of remorse and he regrets the level of danger he put himself in that day. He made a serious misjudgement and it’s for that reason I ask his Lordship place him on a rehabilitation scheme.

“Given the circumstances and his lack of record, you will not see him back in court again. He doesn’t drink very often, only on special occasions. He’s taken this matter very seriously. It’s been very difficult for him and his family to deal with.”

Sheriff Michael Hanlon fined Connolly £300 each on charge one and two, and £750 on charge three. He also disqualified him from driving for 18 months, with the option to reduce the ban by three months on the completion of a rehabilitation course.

Sheriff Hanlon told Connolly: “I hope Mr Gallacher is right in that we won’t see you back before the courts again.”