A SPRINGSIDE man who crashed his car whilst FOUR times the drink drive limit has been fined and banned.

Ian Angus, of Overtoun Road, collided with a car on an unclassified country road near Kilmaurs on May 21.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard how the female driver of the other car was left “traumatised” by the accident.

At 9.55pm on the night in question, the woman was driving up a hill between the B751 and B7778 near Robinlynn Cottage.

She became aware of Angus, 46, driving the car on the other side of the road.

The cashier continued over the hill and crashed into the woman’s car.

She called 999 and police attended the scene. Angus suffered a punctured lung and injuries to his sternum and collarbone while the woman was taken to Crosshouse Hospital for minor injuries.

The court heard how she was “traumatised” due to the fact her children were in the back of her car. They did not sustain any injuries.

Angus accepted he was the driver of the car when spoken to by police.

He gave a reading of 212 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - exceeding the limit of 50 microgrammes.

At court last week, Angus, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the offences.

Before being addressed by Angus’ solicitor, presiding Sheriff Alistair Watson remarked: “It’s lucky nobody was hurt more than they were.”

Scott Gow, defending, said Angus had been drinking heavily in the morning after nightshifts before going to bed, waking up and driving.

The solicitor said Angus’ recent behaviour was uncharacteristic but said there was “no excuse”.

Mr Gow added that the Springside man “very much regrets” the incidents and appreciated he would face a lengthy ban.

Sheriff Watson fined Angus £750 before disqualifying him from driving for two years.

That ban will be reduced by six months on completion of a drink-drive rehabilitation scheme.