A Dalry man who crashed his car then fled the scene after being more than four times the drink-drive limit is to be sentenced next month.

James Rae drove his vehicle without due care or attention in that he drove at excessive speed and failed to maintain proper control of his car.

Rae, 58, of Blairlands Drive, pleaded guilty to two charges at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.

The court heard that at around 5pm on February 17, two witnesses saw Rae’s vehicle collide with a bridge in Dalry’s Bridgend. One of the witnesses went to check if Rae needed assistance. She also photographed his vehicle where it had come to a stop.

On speaking to Rae, the witness could detect the smell of alcohol coming from him and she suggested contacting police. At that point, Rae drove off. The woman photographed Rae’s vehicle again and then reported the matter to the police. When officers traced Rae to his home, they saw his vehicle outside with extensive damage to the front.

Rae admitted to officers that he had been driving, then held both hands out and said: “Take me away.” He refused to take a roadside breath test and was taken to Saltcoats Police Office. He later stated he had been driving and that he “was steaming”, then provided a breath sample, which showed he had 92 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit in Scotland is 22 in 100.

Sheriff Michael Hanlon said: “It is a relatively high reading and it also involved an accident so I’m going to have to adjourn for reports. In the meantime, you’re going to be disqualified from driving.”