A gardener has been banned from the roads for two years after he got behind the wheel while more than three times the legal drink-drive limit.
Jerzy Kalinowski appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted the offence on the A93 Banchory to Aboyne Road on July 26 this year.
The court heard the 49-year-old had been drinking all day at a barbecue at his home in Banchory.
Later that evening Kalinowski and his wife began arguing.
As a result the Polish national got into his blue Honda Accord and decided to drive to a friend’s house in Aboyne the court heard.
Fiscal depute Karen Dow said police officers on patrol at the time noticed his car was being driven erratically and was swerving all over the road.
She said officers believed the driver of the car had been drinking so they pulled him over.
When Kalinowski got out of the car he smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring his speech. He was also unsteady on his feet, she said.
Representing Kalinowski, solicitor Laura Maitland said her client realised his actions had been “completely irresponsible” and that he recognised he was putting other people in danger by driving in that condition.
She said: “He accepts that given the reading it will be dealt with very seriously.
“It is clear he regrets his actions his decision to act on impulse. He does accept how dangerous this may have been for other people.”
Sentencing the first offender Sheriff Christopher Shead said the reading was too high to merit a fine.
Instead Kalinowski, now of 51 Logie Place, Aberdeen, was banned and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community within the next six months.
His car was also confiscated by the Crown.