A drink driver who "went off the rails" after losing his job during the pandemic crashed his car twice in the space of 20 minutes.
Stuart Hutchison began drinking after being made redundant as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that he smashed his car twice after getting behind the wheel while under the influence.
On Tuesday Hutchison, 45, appeared in the dock and pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through alcohol and one charge of careless driving.
The court heard the offences were committed in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, in January this year, and that police were called twice as different members of the public saw each of his crashes.
Upon investigating officers believed he had been drinking as he was unsteady on his feet and his eyes were glazed.
Prosecutor Morag McClintock explained: "Effectively, the accused managed to crash his car twice.
"Around 20 minutes after the first incident he has then crashed in the manner libelled in charge four.
"He has effectively crashed his car twice and the police were contacted in relation to each of them.
"They formed the view that he was under the influence."
The court heard a urine sample taken from him had not been preserved properly, so police and prosecutors were unable to say exactly how much alcohol he had in his system when he was driving.
Hutchison's lawyer said: "He held a very good job, a very well paid job.
"He lost his job with the Covid situation and things went from bad to worse.
"This was a weekend of his life where things really went off the rails".
The lawyer said he had since got his life back on track, securing a job as a project manager with a heating firm.
And he said he could pay a large fine as he was earning £2,700 per month, while his wife works as a teacher.
Sheriff Ray Small fined him £900, reduced from £1,350 as he admitted his guilt, and banned him from driving for 12 months.
The ban will be reduced by three months if he completes a rehabilitation course for drink-drivers.
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