A DRUNK-DRIVER was caught behind the wheel while more than seven times the legal limit.

On Thursday at Alloa Sheriff Court, David McGuffog admitted driving a car with 163 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the 22mg limit, on July 23 this year.

Fiscal depute Ruairidh Ferguson told the court that the 38-year-old was observed by police officers on patrol driving along Alloa's King Street.

The police had cause to stop the accused because of information on document offences relating to his motor vehicle.

Thereafter he failed the roadside test and was found to have 163 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Defending, Jim Savage noted the "exceedingly high reading".

He claimed that his client, of Merchiston Avenue in Falkirk, had a good history of employment, but spoke to a background of alcoholism.

Mr Savage stated that McGuffog had been drinking heavily the day before the incident, which contributed to the high reading on top of what he'd consumed that day.

Following his arrest, the accused has attended Alcoholics Anonymous and has been accepted on a 10-day detox programme to start in September.

However, Mr Savage stated that it was a "serious situation in which he finds himself".

Sheriff Gillian Wade branded McGuffog a "danger to the public".

She disqualified him from driving for four years and sentenced him to a Community Payback Order with supervision for 18 months and a requirement to attend support programmes as identified in his Criminal Justice Social Work report.

Sheriff Wade also granted the Crown forfeiture of McGuffog's car, worth £1,000.