Dingwall delivery driver who was over five times the limit told he was lucky no one died
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A drunk driver from Ross-shire has been warned that he was "lucky" no one was killed after getting behind the wheel while more than five times over the limit.
Delivery driver Andrej Barko, of Fraser Road, Dingwall, opted to drive his van on September 11 last year despite being heavily under the influence of alcohol, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.
The incident happened on Old Evanton Road around 8.45pm, fiscal depute Emma MacEwan said.
Other motorists noticed him swerving into the oncoming lane and reported him to police after another car had to swerve to avoid a head on collision.
He was then seen by neighbours staggering from his car to get into his house.
Defence agent Graham Mann described his client's reading as "tremendously high".
The court heard he had 123 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres - the legal limit being 22 microgrammes.
Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald disqualified the 46-year-old from driving for a year.
She also imposed a community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.
He will also have to sit the extended driving test in order to get his licence back.
Sheriff MacDonald added: "You're very lucky you were not killed and you're lucky that no one else was killed."
