A DRINK driver has been banned from the roads after being caught by police when he popped out to the shops to buy parcel tape.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court was told that Daniel O'Connell was found to be three times over the limit when he was behind the wheel of his car in Stevenston earlier this year.

The 43-year-old was spotted by cops approaching the junction between Hayocks Road and McGregor Avenue with speed at around 6pm on January 27.

The procurator fiscal depute told the February 25 hearing: "The driver did not stop and narrowly missed an oncoming vehicle that swerved to avoid a collision."

Police pulled O'Connell over and officers smelled alcohol off his breath after approaching his window.

A breath test provided a reading of 88mcg/100ml of breath; the legal limit in Scotland is 22mcg/100ml.

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Defence solicitor Brian Holliman said O'Connell, who is separated from his wife, was in the process of transferring his home as part of the matrimonial settlement on the day of the incident.

Mr Holliman said: "He started drinking in the afternoon and was not intending to drive.

"He was packing up his belongings and ran out of parcel tape and drove to a supermarket to buy more.

"It was then he was noticed by police."

O'Connell, of Montgomerie Road in Saltcoats, was fined £640 and disqualified for 12 months. If he completes a drink driving rehabilitation scheme the ban will be reduced to nine months.