A BORDERS man who drove while almost six times the legal alcohol limit has been banned from the road for 14 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Alfred Storrie, 62, of Hawick, pleaded guilty to driving in the Morrisons car park in Mart Street, Hawick, on January 17 with a breath/alcohol count of 126 microgrammes - the legal limit being 22.

Procurator fiscal Fraser Matheson said that at around 4.30pm the accused was observed by a security guard to stagger towards a vehicle.

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He continued: "He got into the vehicle and reversed out of a parking space and drove through the car park.

"He was over revving the engine and was clearly not driving the vehicle in the fashion it should have been.

"Concerned members of the public contacted the police."

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The police traced Storrie at his home in Laidlaw Terrace where he provided a positive breath test.

Defence lawyer Colin Severin said his client had been drinking with a neighbour who had just turned 75 years old and his partner was also present.

He said an argument developed as something had to be collected and Storrie took the decision to drive the car. 

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The court was told Storrie was provided with a car because he was disabled but he did not normally drive it.

Sheriff Peter Paterson told Storrie: "This is a very high reading."

He said he would normally have imposed a disqualification period of 21 months but reduced it to 14 months due to the guilty plea.

In addition Storrie was fined £200 with a £10 victim surcharge.