Jail term for digger drink-driver

The court heard that Clark had previous driving convictions

A Midlothian man who drove a JCB digger while over the drink-drive limit has been jailed for four months.

Stuart Clark, 22, from Roslin, was also banned from driving for four years after being caught operating the machine in Loanhead on 11 August 2007.

Clark was sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after earlier pleading guilty to driving the digger with 75 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath.

He was twice the legal limit and driving while disqualified.

'Every opportunity'

Depute Fiscal Malcolm Stewart said it was obvious to the police that Clark had been drinking.

The accused told them he had been stupid and apologised.

The fiscal said the digger, which was worth "many thousands of pounds", was undamaged.

Sentencing Clark, Sheriff Michael O'Grady pointed out it was the third time he had been convicted of driving while disqualified and the second time for drink-driving.

"You have had every opportunity" he said.