A VALE man has been banned from the roads for being almost five times the legal drink limit.

Edward Laidlaw, of Grey Street, Alexandria, previously pleaded guilty to having 120mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the limit is 22mg.

The charge against the 56-year-old revealed he had driven in Bank Street and Grey Street on June 12 while drunk.

Defence solicitor Tom Brown said: “Clearly there’s a problem and he acknowledges that.

“He is doing what he can about the drink problem.

“This is his first offence and hopefully his only offence.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: “You know you should not have been behind the steering wheel of the car when you were five times the legal limit.

“Absolutely anything could have happened.”

Laidlaw was put on a community payback order where he will be supervised for 18 months.

He must also carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community within six months and is disqualified from driving for two years.

The court heard Laidlaw can reduce the ban by six months if he attends a drink driving rehabilitation course.