A MAN has been banned from driving after volunteering to give a lift to friends who got drunk at a church festive party.
Laurance Santa Maria stepped in when his party of friends "clearly imbibed considerable amounts" during the church event and took them home.
But he was driving in a hesitant manner and when the police pulled him over they found he was also under the influence of alcohol.
Santa Maria, 40, of Blairgowrie, admitted driving with excess alcohol on December 28 last year.
At Perth Sheriff Court, he was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £360 by Sheriff Fiona Tait.
Solicitor Mike Tavendale, defending, said: "He felt fit and well enough to drive but clearly that was a misconception on his part. .
"He is in full-time employment. He requires his licence and has been told he will lose his employment because of the disqualification."
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