AN UNLUCKY dog was "in shock" when it was found in the passenger seat of a drunk driver's crashed car, a court was told last week.

The details emerged after Tillicoultry man Oliver Mason, 31, pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit at the Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, October 15.

Prosecutor Ann Orr said the offence came to light after police came across a single-vehicle crash on the A91 road from Tillicoultry to Alva in the early hours of October 10.

There was "significant damage" to the vehicle, and debris scattered across the road.

Officers checked inside the vehicle and found no driver, but, Ms Orr said there was a dog in the passenger seat described as being "in shock".

She added: "Officers then heard a noise nearby and went to render their assistance.

"There they found the accused, who appeared to have been thrown from the motor vehicle.

"He said he was uninjured; they could smell alcohol on his breath."

A breath test later revealed he had 58microgrammes of alcohol per 100millilitres of breath; the legal limit is 22mcg per 100ml of breath.

After being taken to hospital for checks, Mason was then taken to a police station where he was cautioned, charged, and said in reply: "It was someone else who was driving."

He added: "I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

No further details about the incident, or the dog, were given by the prosecutor.

After taking a look at Mason's schedule of previous convictions, Sheriff Craig Harris noticed this was not a one-off offence.

He said: "Standing the fact that you have a previous conviction for exactly the same offence last year, I'm going to call for reports."

The sheriff then deferred sentencing Mason, of Hareburn Road, until November 19 to allow a criminal justice social work report and restriction of liberty assessment to be competed.

Mason was disqualified from driving in the meantime.

Solicitor Robert Smith will tender a plea in mitigation during his client's next court appearance.