Published: Wednesday, 17th March, 2010 9:25am

DRINK DRIVER DITCHED HIS CAR

by John Martin Fulton

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A WORRIED member of the public rang police to warn them after spotting an Irvine man head straight from the pub to his car - but police only caught up with him after he had crashed into a ditch.

Stewart Mathieson, of Cairngorm Court, was spotted leaving the pub at 6.20pm and getting into his vehicle.

He made several attempts to reverse the car but kept stalling, concerning one member of the public enough to get them to contact the police.

While on the lookout for the 54-year-old officers received a report of an accident which was believed to be the same vehicle as earlier reported.

When the arrived at the scene, at Towerlands Road near to the Capringstone Roundabout, they discovered Mathieson's car lying at the bottom of a ditch.

Procurator Fiscal Yolande Love told Kilmarnock Sheriff Court: "The accused was lying five metres away at the bottom of a fence."

Fire rescue officers, paramedics and other police officers were also called to attend the scene.

Mathieson then failed a roadside breath test and was found to be over three times the legal drink-drive limit.

His lawyer Peter Murray told the court that his client had been suffering from "quite a bit of depression" at the time of the incident after being forced to give up his job because of illness.

"He had turned to drink as a crutch in essence to help him through," added Mr Murray.

"He has had the good sense to contact his GP and is hoping to deal with his drink issue."

Mathieson pled guilty to drink driving on February 18 at the court last Thursday.

Sheriff Brian Murphy fined him £200 and banned him from the roads for two years.