A BORDERS motorist who admitted driving while under the influence of drugs has been banned from the road for 14 months at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Sixty-year-old Robert Deans, of Leslie Place, Selkirk, also pleaded guilty to being in possession of a quantity of cocaine on March 30.

Depute fiscal Alison Atkins explained that at around 4.40pm a witness was driving her car along Melrose Road in Galashiels and was going down Station Brae when she saw Deans approach a roundabout from another point and take a very wide berth around the roundabout.

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He did not use an indicator and the car mounted a verge before bouncing back onto the roadway and then crossed over the white line in the middle of the road causing traffic in the opposite direction to pull in.

The matter was reported to the police who traced Deans to his home address.

Ms Atkins said: "The officers saw his car parked very close to another car despite there being plenty of free spaces in the car park.

"They then saw the accused standing at the rear of his property next to a garden gate.

"He was seen to be unsteady on his feet with convulsing pupils in his eyes, slurred speech and a blue coloured residue on his bottom lip.

"He also appeared drowsy."

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The fiscal said Deans tested negative for alcohol following a breath test and he was arrested and charged under section four of the Road Traffic Act for being under the influence of drugs while driving.

He was searched and was found to be in possession of 0.7 grammes of cocaine.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said his client had found it difficult to cope with the death of his son from a drugs overdose and had undergone drug and bereavement counselling.

Sheriff John Cook said that from the fiscal's narrative it was clear that Deans had a high level of impairment due to the drugs he had taken.

He said he would have imposed an 18-month ban but reduced the length of disqualification to 14 months due to the guilty plea.

Deans was fined £480 for driving while under the influence of drugs and another £120 for possession of cocaine.