A DRUNK driving accused charged with being nearly five-times the booze limit was absent from a sheriff court hearing because he's in the United States.

Thomas McLevy, 20 - who is said to have had a reading of 103mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - is at a Camp America course, the court was told.

The legal limit is 22mcg.

McLevy, of South Street, is said to have committed the alleged offence near his home on June 4.

His lawyer requested that the matter be continued without plea and stated that he would not be returning from America until August 15.

The matter is set to call again on July 28.