A ROYAL Marine caught nearly four times the legal drink drive limit will have his chances of promotion halted as a result, a court heard last week.

Joshua Paine pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to being in charge of a vehicle while he was almost four times the legal limit on Sunday, May 21.

The 23-year-old was spotted around 4am on Sunday, May 21, as police were travelling on the south approach road to HMNB Clyde at Faslane.

A white Skoda Fabia was parked on the south approach road – also known as Maidstone Road – with its lights on and motor running and one person in the driver’s side.

Officers noticed the man was having difficulty focusing and had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.

He supplied a breath sample with a reading of 83 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath; the legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

Paine’s defence solicitor told the court his client had been out with friends in Glasgow and returned by train to Helensburgh, where they continued drinking.

They planned to return to the base together but got separated.

An “impressive” character reference was submitted which, said the solicitor, showed the incident was “completely out of character”.

He added: “There will likely be a promotion ban for some time and opportunities available to him will be limited.

“He would likely have been in line for promotion ahead of his peer group but now it is unlikely or impossible as a result of this matter.

“He is entirely contrite.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said Paine’s training instilled a high standard of self-discipline that certainly didn’t apply on May 21.

Paine, listed in court papers as living in Stormont Way, Chessington, Surrey, was fined £400 and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

He can reduce that by four months if he takes a drink driving rehabilitation course. His licence was endorsed.