A MOTORIST offered to give someone a lift home despite being almost four times the legal alcohol limit, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Alasdair Forsyth - who runs a car cleaning business in Jedburgh - was drinking in the town when he made the offer for a trip to St Boswells.

But the 26-year-old lost control of the BMW and crashed on the B6040 on the evening of July 8.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: "As a result of this the passenger was unable to get out of the vehicle.

"The car ended up in a ditch and it later transpired he was almost four times the legal limit."

Forsyth of Parkside, Gorebridge, pleaded guilty to driving with a breath/alcohol count of 81 microgrammes - the legal limit being 22.

Defence lawyer Greg McDonnel said: "As a result of the inevitable disqualification he is going to have to relocate and is trying to find accommodation in the Borders.

"He is deeply apologetic for the offence.

"He did not realise how much he had to drink before he tried to drive to St Boswells.

"This will have a significant impact on him as he only started the business in July of this year."

Sheriff Peter Paterson banned Forsyth from the road for 12 months and fined him £300.