Piotr Grzymski appeared in the dock of Glasgow Sheriff Court this week after he pleaded guilty to several traffic offences, including getting behind the wheel while his blood-alcohol level was 72 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.
He was stopped by police on September 1 last year, as he drove away from Tesco in Shettleston.
Officers were travelling behind him and signalled for him to stop. Grzymski complied.
During background checks, it was revealed that the 57-year-old was disqualified and the vehicle was not insured.
Cops also detected alcohol on his breath and saw open alcohol containers in the car.
Grzymski was given a breath test, which he failed.
He was arrested and taken to Cathcart police station. He replied: “Understand I have been drinking. I drove maybe one or two kilometres, 20 minutes or so.
“I have not been driving for five months, this is the first time.”
The court heard that there was a passenger in the vehicle.
Grzymski’s solicitor said: “This was over a year ago. In that time, he relocated back to Poland. He works there and does not intend to come back to Scotland.
“He is aware that you could imprison him today but because his job is a good one, he is in a position to pay a substantial fine.
“A tag is inappropriate and he is not suitable for unpaid work.”
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Sheriff Collette Gallagher said Grzymski’s reasoning for why he got behind the wheel – which was not revealed in open court – differed from what he told police.
She added: “His explanation has no logic whatsoever.”
The lawyer said: “There may be something lost in translation. He did not have the benefit of an interpreter. The options are a fine or imprisonment.”
Sheriff Gallagher addressed Grzymski: “You pleaded guilty to three serious charges. Clearly, you were well aware that you were disqualified from driving. You were also well aware that you should not have been driving while under the influence of alcohol, given that this was the reason you were disqualified in the first place.
“The explanation you have given has little logic to it. You were seen driving out of a Tesco.
“I am told I have two options, issue a fine or give you a custodial sentence. This was a breach of a court order and in my view, the custodial threshold has been met.”
Grzymski was imprisoned for 108 days and disqualified from driving for three years and two months.
