A FATHER-OF-SIX from Glasgow who was high on cocaine while driving through Luss has been banned from the roads for 12 months.

Javaid Akhtar, who lives in Leslie Road in the city’s southside, was stopped by police on the A82 in June last year.

The 47-year-old appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a charge of being behind the wheel of a vehicle whilst unfit to do so through drink or drugs.

Akhtar was spotted by police on patrol in Luss Road at around 12.25pm on June 22, 2019, driving his black Mercedes in an erratic manner and veering from one side of the road to another.

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Fiscal depute Emma Petterson told the court that Akhtar stumbled as he exited the vehicle after being stopped by police.

Ms Petterson said: “He [Akhtar] righted himself on the car door before leaning on a bus stop nearby for balance.

“Police noted the accused repeatedly clicking his fingers, grinding his teeth together and a white paste which had formed at both corners of his mouth.

“The accused was clearly under the influence of some kind of substance.”

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Akhtar was taken to Clydebank police office where a blood sample was taken, however it was not analysed as he confessed to taking cocaine.

His defence solicitor told Tuesday’s hearing that his client had been struggling to come to terms with the loss of a family member and had gone out with a friend to the Luss area where he took the class A drug.

The solicitor said: “On the day in question he was on an extremely low ebb after losing his sister a few years ago. He has struggled to cope with that.

“He has a sense of relief that this matter has arisen as it allowed himself to take stock of his life.

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“He presents as extremely remorseful, embarrassed and ashamed.

“He is well aware that he placed other road users at risk as a result of his actions and he is going to try to obtain bereavement counselling.

“Without trying to delegate responsibility, the person he was with took the substance, and they went to the Luss area together.”

Akhtar was disqualified from driving for a period of 12 months, while Sheriff John Hamilton also fined him £300.

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