A MAN caught drink-driving just days after being given early release from jail because of covid-19, has been fined £1,040 and banned from driving for three years.

After drinking Buckfast, Craig Marshall, 30, from Kirkcaldy, lost control of his car and crashed into a kerb after speeding through Cardenden.

The former serviceman, of Church Street, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He previously admitted that that on April 19, at Main Street, Cardenden, he drove a car without due care and attention and at excessive speed, failed to negotiate a bend safely and collided with a kerb, causing damage to the vehicle.

He also admitted he was driving after consuming excess alcohol. His reading was 48 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 22 microgrammes. He also drove without insurance.

Depute fiscal Sanah Idrees had told the court previously that at 6.45pm, two witnesses saw a car travelling at speed in Cardenden then failing to negotiate a bend and hit the kerb.

The car, which was being driven by Marshall, had come to a halt in the middle of the road.

“He got out of the vehicle and appeared to be staggering,” added the depute.

The court was told another witness was in his back garden when he heard a screech and loud bang. He saw the accused’s car in the middle of the road with a damaged wheel.

“The accused attempted to drive off but could not. He appeared to be laughing,” said the depute.

Police were called and Marshall was arrested after refusing to take a roadside breath test.

Defence solicitor Brian Black said: “He had been released from prison on 15th April. On the day of the offence, he’d drunk a third of a bottle of Buckfast and made the foolish decision to drive.”

Sheriff Alastair Brown pointed out: “He’s done it before.”