A SALTCOATS man awaiting sentence for a drug driving incident nearly missed his court hearing earlier this month.

A warrant to apprehend Richard Skeoch was initially granted by Sheriff Sheena Fraser as the 36-year-old was not present when called into the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

The Lochlea Road resident was due to appear for sentencing following a guilty plea at an earlier date to a charge of driving a car while the proportion of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol - the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis - in his blood was not less than 10 microgrammes per litre blood.

This is five times over the legal limit for this drug of two mcgs per litre blood.

The incident took place on November 18, 2021, on the Kilwinning Road area of Stevenston.

Around an hour later, however, Skeoch did eventually make it to his hearing after sitting in the wrong court due to an online inaccuracy.

His solicitor Neil McPherson explained this situation once the Saltcoats man made it into the dock, adding further background on what led to Skeoch committing this offence.

He explained that the 36-year-old's perception of his fitness to drive was skewed as he was a "regular cannabis smoker".

"He had built up quite a tolerance," Mr McPherson added.

The solicitor informed the court that Skeoch had since stopped smoking the drug and was working to improve his lifestyle.

Sheriff Fraser commented: “I will take into account everything that has been said on your behalf, in particular now that you are no longer taking any cannabis.”

The court sheriff then handed Skeoch a fine totalling £210, as well as banning him from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of 12 months.