A DRUNK driver caught behind the wheel of a powerful car in Port Glasgow was nearly SEVEN TIMES the booze limit.

Martyn Tague was driving a 200 horse power Audi Q5 erratically on the A8 when he was spotted by two off-duty police officers.

The dad-of-four had drank to excess following the suicide death of an old school friend - then decided to get into his car for a trip to McDonald's, Greenock Sheriff Court was told.

He was found to have 141 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath following his arrest - putting him six-and-a-half times the legal limit of 22mcg of booze.

Tague pleaded guilty to the offence at the first calling of the case last Friday and was told by a sheriff that the starting point for a driving ban in his case was four years.

Defence lawyer Ellen Macdonald said: "A former school friend took his own life and drink was taken by Mr Tague. He is ashamed of his behaviour.

"The offence appears to be entirely out of character and was a bad reaction to tragic circumstances.

"He has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

"There are no substance issues, he is in full-time employment and has never come to the attention of the courts until this matter."

Greenock Telegraph:

Ms Macdonald addded: "The drink driving rehabilitation scheme is something he would be interested in."

Prosecutor Mark Nicol told the court that Tague was seen by the off-duty PCs travelling westbound on the A8 shortly after 6pm on June 7.

Fiscal depute Mr Nicol said: "A call was made to on-duty police and the accused was traced at McDonald's at the Port Glasgow retail park.

"A roadside breath test procedure was carried out, which the accused failed.

"He was thereafter arrested and taken to Greenock police office.

"Following drink driving procedures there the lower of the two readings was 141 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath."

Solicitor Ms Macdonald said: "With regard to Mr Tague's personal circumstances, he has two children and two stepchildren.

"He is an electrician to trade and is subcontracted to BAE Systems in Scotstoun."

Sheriff James Mulgrew told Tague: "In your case the court has to recognise the very high reading and deal with this case not within the normal scale for offences of this nature.

"It appears to have been an isolated incident and out of character for you, given your lack of driving endorsements, your employment history and family circumstances.

"The starting point for any period of disqualification must be higher than normal, and the starting point in your case is four years.

"You have pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and I will reduce that period to 32 months.

"I will grant you leave to take part in the drink driving rehabilitation scheme and if that is successfully completed will lead to a further quarter reduction in the disqualification period."

Sheriff Mulgrew also fined Tague, whose address was not given in court, a total of £640.