'13-pint' driver drove 120 miles

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A motorist who drove more than 120 miles after drinking 13 pints of lager has been fined £315 and banned from driving for three years.

A court heard it was "a miracle" Michael Reynolds had not hit any other vehicles as he drove from Newcastle to Edinburgh after drinking all day.

Reynolds, 49, of Morrison Crescent in Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

He also admitted driving without insurance or a licence.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard Reynolds has never held a driving licence and has four previous convictions for drink driving.

He was found staggering around and slurring his words a short time after arriving home from the Metro Shopping Centre at Gateshead on 24 May.

The court was told Reynolds had been in England with family members and had travelled as a passenger to the Metro centre that morning.

It was clear that he was very intoxicated Graeme FraserFiscal depute

During the journey, he had drunk four cans of lager, said fiscal depute Graeme Fraser.

He then went to a pub at the Metro centre and drank nine pints of lager.

"Fortified by all of that he then drove home," said Mr Fraser.

Concerned family members called the police who found Reynolds at home later that night.

When officers arrived at his Edinburgh home, they found him staggering around, his eyes were glazed and he was slurring his words.

"It was clear that he was very intoxicated," said the prosecutor.

"He said he had driven the vehicle up from Newcastle and didn't have a licence in place at the time.

"The miracle was that he managed to travel that distance, at least 100 miles, without hitting any other vehicle," Mr Fraser added.

Jim Stephenson, defending, said Reynolds had been treated in hospital for alcohol problems since the offence and was suffering from depression and other mental health problems.

He had been jailed in 1991 for a driving offence but had been out of trouble since the 1990's, said Mr Stephenson.

Sheriff Alistair Noble said: "I think I can deal with this offence by way of a financial penalty.

"Given how unfit you were to drive and given the record you have I will disqualify you from driving for a period of three years from today," he added.