A DUNFERMLINE drink-driver claimed he decided to move his car from outside his home after it had been vandalised.

However, Richard Wheeler was then involved in collisions with parked vehicles in his street.

Wheeler, 42, of Shields Road, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on July 27, in Shields Road, he drove having consumed excess alcohol. His reading was 59 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 22 microgrammes.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said a local resident was asleep in his home at around 6am when he heard two loud bangs. When he went outside, he discovered his parked car had been struck by a vehicle driven by Wheeler, who appeared to be trying to reverse but was unable to do so.

Police were contacted and when officers arrived, they saw that another parked vehicle had also been struck, added the depute.

Wheeler had gone to his home nearby and when officers found him there, he failed a breath test and was taken to the police station.

Defence solicitor Peter Robertson said his client had been out drinking the night before and had gone to bed at around midnight.

He was woken by a “cracking sound” and found his wing mirror had been damaged, following other incidents of vandalism in the street recently.

“He decided to move his car about 50 yards to a side street where he thought it would be safer. He was in a slight panic,” added Mr Robertson.

Sheriff Charles MacNair imposed a 12-month driving ban and a £400 fine.