A 28-YEAR-OLD man found in charge of a car in Tweedbank was six-and-a-half times the legal alcohol limit, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Jordan Gregory from Newcastle pleaded guilty to the offence which happened at around 9pm in Tweedbank Drive earlier this year.

Procurator fiscal Fiona Hamilton said the accused was spotted crouching down beside the vehicle and said he was feeling sick.

Defence lawyer Liam Alexander said his client was driving to Edinburgh to go on a date with a woman he had met.

But he had been nervous and started to have panic attacks and decided to self-medicate by consuming alcohol.

Mr Alexander explained that Gregory had a bottle of gin in the car which he had planned to share with the woman.

When police arrived on the scene he was found to be ion charge of the car with a breath/alcohol count of 144 microgrammes - the legal limit being 22.

Sheriff Kenneth McIver told Gregory he was "grossly over the limit" and it was an "extraordinary reading".

Gregory was disqualified from driving for six months and fined £375.