A 54-YEAR-OLD man who attempted to drive home after taking part in the Hawick Common Riding celebrations has been banned from the road for 15 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Stuart Huggan, from Ashkirk, was more than three times the legal alcohol limit when police stopped his vehicle at Sainsbury’s in Commercial Road, Hawick, during the early hours of June 9 due to a faulty tail light.

His breath/alcohol reading was 75 microgrammes – the legal limit being 22.

Defence lawyer Rory Bannerman said his client deeply regretted the offence having previously had a clean driving licence for 35 years.

He explained Huggan had been drinking with friends at the Hawick Common Riding during the day but his planned lift back to Ashkirk failed to materialise and he made the “stupid choice” to get behind the wheel of his car.

In addition to the 15 months disqualification from driving, he was fined £600.