A north-east man who drove while under the influence of alcohol twice in just four days claimed he did so because he was working unsociable hours to pay for his dog’s cancer treatment.
Ian Jolly told Aberdeen Sheriff Court his puppy had developed tumours that require thousands of pounds of care.
The 43-year-old said he had resolved to saved the animal’s life and so worked long hours as a chef at Aberdeen Airport to raise funds.
That led to stresses that saw him frequently start work at 4am before returning home at midday to begin drinking.
His problems came to light when police were told about a possible drink driver at 7.10pm on July 3 last year.
Officers found Jolly at a service station on the city’s King Street, washing his car with the key still in the ignition.
He identified himself as the driver and after being breathalysed was found to have 51 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22.
Just four days later he was followed by police on patrol on Dyce Drive, who approached him as he got out of the vehicle.
He again identified himself as the driver and on that occasion was found to have an even higher reading of 112 microgrammes of alcohol.
Jolly confessed to the offences and returned to Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday to be sentenced.
Defence agent Graeme Murray said his client’s circumstances had changed since the time of the offences.
He said: “He has moved from that job and will start a full time chef’s job at a hotel.
“He has addressed his problems and moderated his drinking.”
He added that the dog’s treatment had been successful.
Jolly, of Merkland Road East in Aberdeen, was banned from driving for four years and ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work.