A RENFREWSHIRE pensioner has been spared jail after he was caught driving to get cigarettes after spending the day drinking.

William Black made the mistake of getting behind the wheel after a drinking session last month.

The 77-year-old spent the afternoon of August 19 in a pub in Renfrew.

Black returned home and realised he didn’t have any cigarettes, but hit another car on his way to a shop to buy some.

When police arrived at his home in Renfrew’s Lossie Crescent, he admitted he’d been drinking and failed a breath test.

Black appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court and pleaded guilty to breaking Section 5(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 by driving his Renault Clio while having 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the limit is just 22mcg.

Depute Procurator Fiscal Joanne Gilmour said: “At around 9.30pm the accused’s vehicle was involved in a collision with another vehicle.

“As a consequence police were called and when they arrived at the home address of the accused he identified himself and advised he was the owner of the vehicle, then indicated he was the driver at the relevant time.

“He also said he’d been drinking alcohol and thereafter provided a roadside breath test, which he failed.”

He was taken to Helen Street police office in Govan, where he provided two more breath specimens.

He made no reply when cautioned and charged and was released on an undertaking to appear at court.

Defence solicitor Kevin Brady explained: “I understand there was a very minor collision.

“He was very honest and very forthcoming – he advised the police he’d had a drink.

“He has a little routine – he gets the bus from where he lives in to Renfrew. He has a few drinks with friends and returns on the bus.

“He went back out to get cigarettes and made the unfortunate decision to take the vehicle and drive to the shop.”

The lawyer said that Black had worked for Rolls-Royce before retiring and was now the full-time carer for his wife, who “suffers very badly” from dementia.

He added: “The inevitable consequence of his guilty plea will have a significant effect on his life and what he can do with his wife.

“He’s absolutely gutted to find himself here in these circumstances.”

Black could have been jailed for up to 12 months for the offence but was spared a stint behind bars and instead hit with a monetary penalty.

As he banned Black from driving for 18 months and fined him £430, reduced from £650 as he admitted his guilt, Sheriff Euan Edment said he had gone from “an otherwise law abiding citizen” to a drink-driver.

He added: “The limit is 22mcg – you were three-times that.

“I have an obligation to defend the public.”

Black was also told he will need to sit and pass the extended driving test if he ever wishes to get behind the wheel again.