A drink driver who led police on a car chase in Moray has been banned from driving for nearly two years.
Vaidotas Zakarauskas, from Glenburgie Cottages near Forres, was caught twice the legal limit on November 25 last year.
Yesterday the Lithuanian appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to drink driving and dangerous driving.
Police were initially suspicious about the 32-year-old’s behaviour after seeing him loitering near his car on Forres High Street.
When the officers saw him get into the vehicle they put on their blue lights in an attempt to stop him as he drove off at speeds of up to 50mph in the town.
Fiscal Kevin Corrins described Zakarauskas’ car having difficulty negotiating the Enterprise Park roundabout on the A96 Elgin road due to the speed he was travelling at.
He added: “The police travelled at 80mph to try and keep up. The accused thereafter performed an overtake on a blind bend.
“At the time the temperature was near zero and in the preceding days there had been snow and ice, which was beginning to melt, creating large amounts of surface water.”
Police eventually caught up with the motorist at his home, where he was found in possession of the car keys.
A breath test found he had 44mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 22mcg.
Defence solicitor Matthew O’Neill said: “He thought he would be able to get a lift home but when that did not happen he made the foolish decision to drive.”
Zakarauskas was banned from driving for 20 months and ordered to do 240 hours of unpaid work.