A DRUNK driver was caught after being spotted ‘staggering’ across a petrol station forecourt to his car at nearly half-past-one in the morning.

Christopher Bowie was so intoxicated when stopped by police a short time later that officers had to help him out of his white Suzuki Swift.

The shamed 31-year-old had been on an all-night booze session — and was more than five times the legal alcohol limit — when he decided to get behind the wheel of his car.

A sheriff who banned Bowie from the roads for 18 months told him: “You could have caused all sorts of danger and problems driving with that amount of drink in your system.”

Prosecutor Pamela Brady told Greenock Sheriff Court: “A call was made to police at 1.25am regarding a male driver who was seen staggering across the forecourt of a petrol station on Inverkip Road.

“He was seen to get into a car a drive off.”

Police caught up with Bowie in Ryan Road, Wemyss Bay, and immediately noticed how ‘slurred’ his speech was, the court heard.

Mrs Brady said: “Officers had to assist him getting out of his car, such was the level of his intoxication.

“He appeared to be well over the legal alcohol limit.

“During the course of a journey to Greenock police office he repeatedly said ‘sorry’.”

Bowie, of Sunart Road, Wemyss Bay, committed the offence on January 21.

He had 120 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath — the legal limit is 22mcg.

Defence lawyer Gordon Nicol said: “Mr Bowie is extremely embarrassed and ashamed.

“He never had any intention to drive that night at all.

“Mr Bowie had been out for the evening and had gone by public transport to Glasgow.

“He ended up having to change his plans.

“The level of his intoxication played a part in his decision making — and he made the wrong decision.”

Sheriff Iain Fleming told Bowie: “Mr Nicol says that you are embarrassed and ashamed, and so you should be.”

As well as his 18-month driving disqualification, Bowie was also fined £500.