Moray driver was still five times the limit three hours after crash
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A motorist was multiple times over the drink-drive limit when he was involved in a collision at Fogwatt.
Michael Laing was still five times over when breathalysed three hours after the crash.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that the crash happened at about 5pm on November 8.
Members of the public, who had stopped at the scene to help, reported that Laing was unsteady on his feet.
Procurator Fiscal Karen Poke stated that officers who attended the scene "noted a strong smell of alcohol".
She added: "They described the accused as almost falling over numerous times before being placed in the back of the police van."
Officers first took Laing to Dr Gray's Hospital to make sure he had not been hurt.
From there he was conveyed to Elgin Police Station where an official breath test was administered at 8pm.
This recorded a reading of 118, as opposed to the legal limit of 22.
Defence solicitor Iain Maltman said his 54-year-old client had initially developed an alcohol problem while working in the whisky industry.
The lawyer added that Laing, a keen sportsman, had battled hard over several years to overcome it.
But then, while on holiday in 2022, he made a fateful decision that he could drink in moderation.
The court heard that, instead, his problem quickly escalated again.
Mr Maltman added that his client, a hospital porter at Dufftown, was embarrassed about his drinking.
That meant he had tended to do it away from his home in Leslie Terrace, Craigellachie.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov was told that Laing, had taken active steps to combat his problem with alcohol since the date of the offence.
This included three meetings a week with Alcoholics Anonymous plus daily zoom sessions.
Sheriff Pasportnikov imposed a three-year ban and ordered him to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work for the community.
