A CONSTRUCTION site worker who admitted driving while more than four times the legal alcohol limit has been banned from the road for 14 months at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Forty-nine-year-old James Gourdie, of Beech Avenue, pleaded guilty to driving with an alcohol/urine count of 313 microgrammes – the legal limit being 67 – on the Langshaw Road near Galashiels on July 23.

Alasdair Fay, prosecuting, said the incident happened at around 10pm when a member of the public came across a vehicle which had crashed into a dry stane dyke and the police were called.

Gourdie was taken to Borders General Hospital suffering from neck pain.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said his client had admitted being an “idiot” for driving while under the influence.

He added he had just split up with his long-term partner and had been drinking.

In addition to the ban, Gourdie was fined £400 with a £20 victim surcharge.