A DRUNK motorist almost struck a school pupil as he swerved about the road when almost six times over the limit.

It was Robert Cadger’s third drink-driving conviction but he avoided a jail term when he appeared for sentencing at Alloa Sheriff Court.

A retired policeman saw Cadger swerving about the road outside a school and followed him home, calling the police as he did so.

Other vehicles had to take evasive action to avoid collisions as Cadger veered from side to side across the road, coming close to hitting a youngster waiting at the side.

Then, when police arrived at his home, Cadger reacted violently, headbutting one of the officers.

Cadger, 45, of Coats Crescent, Alloa admitted that on March 8 in Alloa Road, Tullibody, he drove a car having consumed excess alcohol.

His reading was 130 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 22 microgrammes.

He also admitted he drove carelessly, swerved over the centre line of the road, causing other road users to take evasive action and almost collided with a school pupil.

He further admitted that at Coats Crescent, he assaulted a police officer by headbutting him.

The court was shown dash-cam video from the pursuing car being driven by a retired police officer.

Cadger drove past a school when there were pupils waiting to cross the road and he almost hit one of them.

The pursuing driver is heard saying: “He’s driving past a school and he’s f****** p*****.”

He contacted the police explaining he was a retired traffic officer and he was following a suspected drink-driver.

At another point he said: “Oh my god, he’s just about hit a kid.”

He followed Cadger all the way back to his home where he staggered out of his car.

The court heard Cadger had previous drink-driving convictions from 2003 and 2016.

Defence solicitor Robert Smith said his client had been drinking in his home and made the “extremely foolish error of deciding to drive to the chemists for a prescription”.

He added: “He accepts he has a drink problem and this error of judgement has placed him in a precarious position.”

Sheriff Neil Bowie imposed a community payback order with 300 hours of unpaid work and two years of supervision with alcohol treatment.

He also banned Cadger from driving for four years and two months and until he passes the extended test.

Cadger’s car was forfeited.

He was also fined £1,000 and ordered to pay the police officer £500 compensation.