A MAN who drove a van after downing Sambuca shots with pals in a Port pub has been told to prepare for prison.

Thomas Thruel was found to be 5.3 times the legal alcohol limit more than three hours after staggering out of a bar in the town.

CCTV footage played in court showed the 26-year-old roofer downing a number of shots in quick succession, as well as lager.

A camera outside the premises filmed Thruel staggering and remonstrating with another man before being ushered away by a woman.

He then walked along Princes Street, unable to stay on the pavement, and appeared to use the double yellow lines on the road as a guide.

Thruel got behind the wheel of his £250 Vauxhall Astra van a short time later and drove it through the town centre, Greenock Sheriff Court heard.

Prosecutor David Glancy told how the footage showed the state Thruel was in at 11.30pm on September 16 and 12.30am on September 17 prior to eventually being breathalysed at 3.52am.

Fiscal depute Mr Glancy said: "The accused's driving came to the attention of the residents of houses overlooking streets in the centre of Port Glasgow.

"Police were contacted and officers found the vehicle stationary and unoccupied.

"They stayed with it while colleagues searched for the accused, who came back to the vehicle and he was arrested and taken to Greenock police office."

Thruel was found to have 118 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 22mcg.

He pleaded guilty to drunk driving through lawyer Aidan Gallagher on Christmas Eve, when he was due to stand trial on the matter.

Thruel's not guilty pleas to dangerous driving within the Princes Street car park, driving at excessive speed, turning excessively sharply, colliding with a sign and failing to co-operate with a preliminary breath test were accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: "I'm considering whether such a level of impairment should result in custody.

"He goes out and knocks shots back and is subsequently a risk to everyone."

Thruel, of the Port's Islay Avenue, could be jailed for a maximum period of six months.

Solicitor Mr Gallagher said: "His recollection is that he drove and was then invited to the pub.

"His intention was to uplift the van the following day, but not on the morning after the night before.

"He was heavily intoxicated and a decision was taken in his mind to drive the vehicle."

Mr Gallagher told the court: "The vehicle was partly used for work and he'd purchased it for £250.

"The vehicle was seized at the time and has since been scrapped.

"He never went back to get it. The uplift charge would have wiped out what value the vehicle had."

Sheriff Hamilton deferred sentence for a background report until February 6.

He banned Thruel from driving with immediate effect pending final sentencing.