A BORDERS man who admitted driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs has been banned from the road for 12 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Fifty-year-old Michael Younger, of Kelso, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened in Kelso town centre on the afternoon of September 11, 2020.

Alasdair Fay, prosecuting, said a member of the public noticed Younger’s erratic driving on the A699 road between Maxton and Kelso when he pulled out a side road and was driving towards Kelso on the wrong side of the road.

He also mounted a pavement in Kelso and another vehicle had to break sharply to avoid a collision.

Mr Fay said that when police tracked Younger down he was asleep in his vehicle with a cigarette hanging from his mouth.

He added: “It took some time for officers to arouse him. He appeared incoherent but there was no smell of alcohol.

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“He was highly impaired but they could not carry out a blood test or take a urine sample either.

“Officers did not know what was in his system.”

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said his client had little recollection of what took place and what had caused him to be so intoxicated.

He added: “In 2010 he suffered a serious brain injury from a road accident.

“I have gone through the evidence with him from the two police officers who found him in this street.

“Despite his recollection being poor he has accepted what they said in their evidence.

“This happened over two years ago and he has not come to the attention in the intervening period.”

In addition to the year long disqualification, he was fined £270 with a £20 victim impact surcharge.