A PENSIONER whose wife phoned police because she feared he was drunk driving has been fined after pleading guilty to the offence.

George Irving was more almost four times the legal limit when police breathalysed him at his home on October 15 of this year.

The court heard that around 6pm, the accused's wife phoned police as she thought he was out drinking and had the car with him.

The police subsequently searched for the 73-year-old and were contacted by his wife again when he returned home intoxicated.

Irving, of Hill Street, Alloa admitted drinking, according to the depute fiscal, and was then arrested after failing a breathalyser test with 84mg in 100ml of breath, with the legal limit 22mg.

Irving's lawyer, Christine Kelly, told the court that her client made a number of admissions in his police interview, including that he was a self-confessed alcoholic.

She said: "He had been visiting a friend. He bought alcohol from Tesco and drank it before driving home."

Irving, who is retired and earns around £3,000 a month from his pension, has begun counselling to deal with his alcohol issues.

Sheriff David Mackie fined Irving £650 and disqualified him from driving for the minimum period of 12 months.