A DRINK driver was found slumped over the steering wheel and told police he was a “freeman of the land”.

Stephen Gillespie was nearly four times over the drink drive limit when he was discovered by a passerby in a car park in Balloch.

Fiscal depute Rebecca Reid told Dumbarton Sheriff Court that they entered the Moss O’ Balloch car park in the morning of January 10, 2020.

When she parked her car she noticed that there was a car parked on the grass embankment in an “unusual position”.

She then spotted a male attempting to change the rear wheel and offered him a torch to assist in changing the wheel.

Ms Reid said: “Walking back to her car she noticed the passenger door was open with the interior light on where she observed [Gillespie] sitting slumped over the steering wheel.

“She engaged in conversation with him and noted him to be slurring his words.”

After reporting the incident to 101, police attended a short time later and noticed the 32-year-old appeared to be drowsy, his speech slurred and a smell of alcohol coming from him.

Gillespie began acting hostile towards police as he was assisted from the car, but fell over as he was “unable to support his own weight”.

He then refused a roadside breathe test but later gave a reading of 85 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breathe.

The legal limit in Scotland is 22 microgrammes.

His defence solicitor said: “The last three years has been particularly taxing. His partner died in unfortunate circumstances that lead to the escalation in his drinking and drug misuse.

“Since early 2021 things started moving in the right direction. He now attends college three days a week.

“He is still drinking to some level but the ultimate goal is to give up alcohol altogether. Whilst there are support structures in place, he has to make the decision to engage with the services.”

At the hearing on April 19, Sheriff John Hamilton said: “I get the fact that he has his issues but his is currently serving a three-year disqualification period.”

Addressing Gillespie, the Sheriff said:”This is not the first or second time you have done this.You have an atrocious record with driving.”

The sheriff placed Gillespie, of Barshaw Road, Glasgow, on a community payback order for 12 months under social work supervision and ordered him to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

He was also disqualified for driving for a further five years.