POLICE were anonymously alerted to a drunk driver after he'd fallen out with his partner during a drinking session.

Alexander McMeikan was found to be nearly three-and-a-half times the legal alcohol limit when officers caught up with him in a car park.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how McMeikan, 45, drove off from the argument with the woman and that police received the tip-off shortly afterwards.

He was caught behind the wheel of a blue Vauxhall Mokka as he entered the car park of the Homebase store off the town's West Shaw Street on June 28.

Prosecutor David Glancy said: "At 5pm police received information that the accused had embarked on a journey and to keep a lookout.

"Within five minutes the vehicle was seen.

"The accused stated, 'I'm sorry'."

McMeikan, formerly of Nicolson Street but now residing at Aberfoyle Road, was found to have 75mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The legal limit is 22mcg.

Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan said: "Mr McMeikan had been enjoying al-fresco drinks in the garden.

"During the course of that there was a disagreement with his partner and he decided, in the heat of the argument, to get away and go to his brother's house."

Mr Keenan added: "He has been doing a driving job that will come abruptly to an end today."

Sheriff Derek Hamilton banned McMeikan from the roads for three years and fined him £350, reduced from £500 due to his guilty plea.

The sheriff said: "The level of the fine reflects both the gravity of the offence as well as the loss of your employment."

McMeikan was allowed leave to take part in a drink-driving rehabilitation scheme, which will reduce the length of his disqualification by nine months if successfully completed.