A man who drank and drove after being sacked for overturning a forklift truck and being dumped by his girlfriend the same day has also been given a driving ban.

Robert Aitkenhead, 24, was spotted by police driving his Fiat Punto on the A803 between Longcroft and Bonnybridge in Stirlingshire.

Officers decided to follow him, Falkirk Sheriff Court was told on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Graham McLachlan said: "The accused came to the attention of the police due to the manner of his driving, and they decided to follow him, and at some stage because of the way things were progressing they decided to activate their sirens.

"I'm told at this point the accused was travelling well in excess of the speed limit.

"As they followed him, police saw him move into the opposing carriageway, and fail to negotiate a 'keep left' bollard on the left hand side of the road."

The court heard that the manoeuvre was conducted in the face of oncoming traffic. Aitkenhead then "cut" a mini-roundabout, overtaking drivers already negotiating it and causing them to slam on their brakes, before eventually coming to a halt.

Traffic policeman Brian McLennan, who spoke to him, immediately noticed a strong smell of alcohol and Aitkenhead was arrested.

The breath-test procedure was carried out and he gave a sample which contained 39 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres, approaching twice the legal limit, which is 22.

Aitkenhead, of Lorimer Place in Falkirk, pleaded guilty to careless driving and drink-driving.

He had originally faced a more serious charge which alleged that his driving had been dangerous and had put the public in peril. However his plea to the lesser offence was accepted by the prosecution.

The incident occurred around 8.30pm on October 15, 2015.

Solicitor-advocate Neil Hay, defending, said: "This was not the best of days for him.

"His girlfriend of three years finished with him, and he had lost his job at a roofing centre having tipped over a forklift truck, causing his employers to terminate his employment.

"He took consolation in the usual way, and he was well refreshed by the time his girlfriend called to ask him to come over to see her to talk things over, which unfortunately he did."

Mr Hay said Aitkenhead had since got a new job at a local food-processing company.

Sheriff Linda Smith fined Aitkenhead £440 and disqualified him from driving for a year.