A DALMUIR man caught four times the legal drink-drive limit after he and his girlfriend split up has been banned from the roads for 20 months.

Norman O’Neill, of Dunswin Avenue, pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week to his first criminal offence.

Around 1.20am on May 14, a taxi was hit from behind by a Ford Focus. Both drivers pulled over and exchanged details but the taxi driver noticed a strong smell of alcohol from 41-year-old O’Neill.

The taxi driver contacted their control room who called police. When officers arrived, they too could smell alcohol and saw O’Neill’s eyes were glazed.

O’Neill also dropped his wallet and licence on the ground seven times while speaking to police. His breath was measured as having 88mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The limit is 22mg.

The man’s defence solicitor told the court O’Neill has been out with his girlfriend of three years in the city centre when her ex appeared.

The lawyer said: “It became apparent that the relationship was ending. He took the decision to leave and go to his girlfriend’s home to pick up belongings and dog.

“He left the property and walked down the street when she shouted she was going to damage his car, so he made the foolish decision to go back for the car.”

The now former partner lived in Yoker and O’Neill was said to be heading home towards Dalmuir along Dumbarton Road into Glasgow Road when the accident happened. O’Neill had a problem with alcohol when he was younger, added the lawyer.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: “At 41 years old, you acquire a criminal record. You were driving when you were four times the legal limit. You were a risk to everyone in the vicinity, including yourself.”

O’Neill was fined £300 as well as being disqualified. He can reduce the ban by five months if he undertakes a drink driver rehabilitation course.