A motorist claimed he was let down by a home breath testing kit after driving under the influence of alcohol.

George Brown, 54, of Precinct Street, Coupar Angus, was still over the limit from the night before and should not have registered negative on the home b-test device, Perth Sheriff Court heard.

The incident was the second time in the space of four months that Brown had been caught driving while under the influence of alcohol and the third time in the past four years.

Fiscal depute Rebecca Kynaston told the court police found Brown smelling strongly of alcohol at 10.30am after receiving an anonymous tip-off that he was driving under the influence.

Defence solicitor John McLaughlin said: "He had been drinking the night before. He had purchased one of the testing machines and tried it that morning.

"As far as the machine indicated, he was under the level where he was fit to drive that morning. Obviously these machines are not that sophisticated."

Mr McLaughlin told the court Brown would lose his home if he was sent to prison and added that heavy drinking had caused him a number of health problems.

Brown admitted driving while more than double the limit on October 3 last year. He also admitted driving while under the influence again on February 9 while he was on bail.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: "The fact of the matter is that since 2012 you have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol on three occasions.

"In particular, the two offences before me today are a matter of four months apart and you were subject to bail. You are going to be off the road for a considerable period of time."

Brown was jailed for four months and banned from the road for seven years.

His previous conviction in January 2012 led to him being banned from the road for two years and fined £1000.