A DUMBARTON man has been spared a prison sentence despite being caught drink driving twice in the space of five months and being more than five times the legal limit on the second occasion.

Sixty-six-year-old Patrick Gillespie appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to two charges at separate hearings last year.

The court was told that Gillespie, who lives in Auchenreoch Avenue, was stopped by police on the afternoon of March 1, 2019 near his home.

Officers had received a report of a drunk male driving a silver vehicle at the location and when they reached the scene Gillespie drove directly towards them before swerving to the right and stopping his car.

Fiscal depute Emma Petterson said: "Police spoke to the driver and noted that he smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring his words."

A sample of breath provided by Gillespie at the roadside proved positive and he was taken to Clydebank police office, where a further blood sample analysis showed 211 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50 milligrammes.

Five months later, at 11.30am on August 16, a woman was said to have observed Gillespie driving a different vehicle at the same location while again under the influence.

He was seen exiting a flat smelling of alcohol and struggling to enter the car.

Police were called as the witness was concerned and the accused answered his door later in the day smelling strongly of drink.

On that occasion, a sample of breath returned a result of 119 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the limit is 22 microgrammes.

Defence solicitor Stephen McGuire told the court: "Mr Gillespie's history with alcohol has not always been a happy one.

"He has not had any alcohol since the last incident and he does not anticipate driving again."

Sheriff John Hamilton disqualified Gillespie from driving for a total of 32 months and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community within six months as a direct alternative to custody. He will also be subject to a supervision order.

The sheriff said: "I can't help but be distraught at the fact that within five months you have earned two driving offences, both for being significantly over the alcohol limit."