A retired gas engineer has vowed not to get behind the wheel again after being caught drink-driving for the second time.
Charles Johnston, 74, was caught after police received a tip-off he was drink-driving.
When officers found him he was almost four times the legal alcohol limit.
And now, after his second analogous conviction, the pensioner has apologised and vowed not to drive again.
Fiscal depute Kiril Bonavino told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened around 7.30pm on Saturday.
Drinking ‘got out of control’
He said police “received information” that Johnston was driving home while “under the influence of alcohol”.
Johnston was traced on Stewart Park Place, where a roadside breath test returned a positive result for alcohol.
Johnston pled guilty to driving with 81 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.
‘He’s done with driving’
Defence agent Nadine Dormer said: “Mr Johnston instructs me to apologise for his conduct and the error he made.”
The solicitor explained Johnston, a retired gas engineer, had suffered a bereavement five years ago, after which his drinking “got out of control”.
She said he had previously had a spell at Cornhill Hospital to treat his alcoholism, and “struggled” in relation to grief again around the time of the offence.
The court heard Johnston also had a previous conviction for drink-driving from around three years ago.
Ms Dormer said: “This is a man who, other than these two mistakes, has never been before this or any other court.
“He’s done with driving.
“He recognises the danger he posed and is sorry for his conduct.
“His position is he will no longer be driving.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller fined Johnston, of Stewart Park Court, Aberdeen, £210 and banned him from driving for three years.
He also granted a crown motion for forfeiture of Johnston’s car.
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