A DRUG driver was nearly six times the legal limit when he crashed his car into a hedge in Kilwinning.

Cameron Millar lost control of the vehicle after driving dangerously in the town two years ago.

The 28-year-old was banned from holding a licence for more than a year when he appeared for sentencing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this week.

He previously pleaded guilty to three charges during an earlier appearance in the dock.

The incident dates back to September 12, 2022, and took place over a number of North Ayrshire roads.

Millar admitted to having 292mcg of benzoylecgonine - the main metabolite of cocaine - per litre of blood, exceeding the legal limit of 50mcg/litre when he was behind the wheel of the vehicle on the A78 in Irvine, the A737, Church Street, Dovecot Lane and Bankhead Road, all Kilwinning.

A further charge related to the Kilwinning man, of Parkhead Avenue, driving dangerously along the roads.

Millar straddled and weaved between carriageways, accelerated and braked erratically, repeatedly drove at excessive speeds and failed to comply with a red traffic signal.

He ultimately failed to maintain control of the car and later 'collided with a hedge'.

Millar also admitted to being in possession of class C drug Etizolam on the same day.

Solicitor Peter Murray said: "Persistent failures to comply with the completion of reports led to him being remanded in custody - with reports now available because of this. He accepts the delay in proceedings is down to him.

"At the time of the offences he had separated from his partner and was not seeing his children, he was struggling to cope.

"During that time he turned to alcohol and other illicit substances. He was making very poor choices, that is clear with his decision on this date."

Mr Murray also pointed to the fact that Millar had no analogous previous convictions, and no other matters outstanding.

Asking for a community-based disposal, he added that Millar "knows what will come if he does not comply" and is determined not to allow this to happen.

Sentencing, Sheriff Colin Bissett agreed to take a step back from custody.

Millar was instead placed on a community payback order which will see him supervised for the next 12 months. He will also have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of 16 months - after which he must sit an extended test test to reobtain his licence.