A SAUCHIE man who was caught driving while banned from the road has been told to undertake unpaid work.

Derek Beattie appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court last Thursday for sentencing after admitting driving while disqualified and a further charge of having no insurance.

He had pleaded guilty to those charges from custody at the beginning of November.

Susannah Hutchison, depute fiscal, told the court that officers were on patrol at around 2.45am and as they approached the BP garage on the A907 they observed Beattie's car leaving.

While behind his vehicle, he was seen swerving into the middle of the road, causing officers to follow and stop the car.

Subsequent checks showed that Beattie was disqualified from driving until he passed his test again. Officers also discovered that they car was his mothers and he was not insured to drive it.

Claire McCarron, representing the 50-year-old, told the court that her client had been having a "difficult time" as of late.

Ms McCarron said that Beattie was recently medically retired after 15 years in his role which paid £4,000 a month and has went on to benefits, making just £700 a week.

She added that he was "very depressed" and had taken his mother's car to go to a friend's house while she was away.

"He was very remorseful and said his behaviour was unacceptable," Ms McCarron added.

Sheriff David Mackie sentenced Beattie, of Branshill Park, to 12 months of supervision and to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

He was also disqualified from driving for a further 12 months.