A SOLDIER, back home in Alva visiting relatives, crashed his car when more than four times over the limit.

Ryan Hutchison, whose job is a driver, has now lost his licence as a result.

The 28-year-old, whose address was given as The Green, Alva, appeared in the dock at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, May 27.

He admitted that on May 1 in The Wynd, Alva, he drove a car after consuming excess alcohol.

His reading was 103 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 22 microgrammes.

The court heard the incident occurred at around 8.30pm when a local resident heard a loud crashing noise and when they looked outside saw a silver Civic Honda in bushes with its engine revving.

The driver was seen leaving the vehicle and struggling to climb over a fence.

Police were called and when officers arrived Hutchison approached them with glazed eyes, slurred speech and smelling of alcohol.

Hutchison, who was representing himself, said he was a driver in the army, currently living at Catterick barracks.

He went on: “This was completely out of character. I knew as soon as I jumped into the car that it was a mistake.

"I was at my brother’s house. I quickly knew it was a mistake and that’s when that happened.

“I tried to stop, but hit the wrong pedal and it went out of control.”

Asked if he could stay in the army without a driving licence, Hutchison said he could but the offence would affect his career.

Sheriff Craig Harris said: “It’s absolutely clear that stepping into a vehicle in the state you were in caused a considerable risk to other road users, pedestrians and yourself.”

He fined Hutchison £710 and banned him from driving for 14 months.