A fresh-faced young hotel worker crashed his car into a field after climbing behind the wheel despite being more than four-times the legal limit.
Filled with bravado, Sean Logan matched workmates at the Highland Inn in Craigellachie drink-for-drink, ending up thoroughly intoxicated.
When he eventually decided to head home, one of his friends, Ricardo Silva, called him a taxi.
By the time it arrived, however, he and others realised Logan had already taken the “dangerous” decision to leave in his own vehicle.
Concerned about his wellbeing, the taxi driver and his friend headed-out to look for him, tailing him in the direction of his home.
They soon discovered he had failed to make it the short distance, finding his car resting in a field a short way off the road.
Depute Fiscal Sharon Ralph told Elgin Sheriff Court: “After realising the accused had already left, they drove from the Highlander Inn towards his address and came upon his vehicle.
“It had left the carriageway. The accused was still in the driving seat, with the engine running.
“Mr Silva phoned an ambulance and the police as he was concerned that Logan had hurt himself.
“When Logan walked a short distance through the field towards the ambulance, he was unsteady on his feet but had no injuries.”
When breathalysed by police officers, it was found that he had 91 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit is just 22 microgrammes.
Defence solicitor Iain Maltman said there had been “an element of bravado” to Logan’s drinking as he was trying to keep up with others, though he would not normally have drunk so much.
He said: “Mr Logan took the dangerous decision to drive home what is a short distance.
“The road was quiet but he accepts it could have been more serious and is thankful that no one got hurt.
“He will luckily keep his employment and will rely on lifts back and forth and the worker’s accommodation available at the hotel.
“He has no previous convictions and has held a driving licence for a year-and-a-half.”
Logan, of Ordha Fradharc near Craigellachie, pled guilty to drink driving on February 16 on the B9102 Craigellachie to Bridge of Sandyhillock.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov disqualified Logan from driving for 18 months and fined him £1,125.