A MOTORIST found sleeping in his car at the side of a remote Borders road was more than four times the legal alcohol limit, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Forty-five-year-old Ricky Lee, of Wellfield Road, Hawick, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle with a breath/alcohol reading of 93 microgrammes - the legal limit being 22.

The offence happened near the village of Bowden during the early hours of December 9.

Lee also pleaded guilty to being in possession of cannabis at Hawick Police Station after his possessions were searched.

Prosecutor Saima Rasheed said a member of the public had contacted the police about how a vehicle was being driven around 11pm on December 8.

Two hours later police officers came across Lee's vehicle with him sleeping on a reclined driving seat with the engine running and a strong smell of alcohol.

Mr Rasheed said Lee was sluggish and his speech slurred and provided a positive roadside breath test.

He was taken to Hawick Police Station where four joints of cannabis were found.

Defence lawyer Liam Alexander said his client had been banned in January for three years for drink driving - an offence which happened before the incident in December.

He added matters were going on in Lee's life involving drinking and the court would benefit from background reports.

Sentence was deferred until April 29.