A PAIR of Good Samaritans who went to the aid of a Cockenzie man who they saw having difficulty with his car were met with a “powerful smell of alcohol”, ultimately resulting in the driver being banned from the roads.

Duncan Patterson was spotted having difficulties with his car in Cockenzie.

And when fellow motorists went to help, they noted a strong smell of alcohol coming from him.

Police were notified and the 60-year-old was soon arrested after failing a roadside breath test.

Patterson, of Elcho Place, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last Wednesday, where he was fined and banned from driving.

The fiscal depute told the court that two witnesses were stuck in a small queue of traffic at the village’s East Lorimer Place, with Patterson at the head of the line.

The witnesses thought that Patterson was having “mechanical difficulties” and approached his vehicle with a view to helping out.

But when they got closer they could hear “the engine being revved loudly” and a strong “smell of burning clutch”, as the driver was having difficulty engaging the car into gear.

Patterson’s vehicle was then pushed onto a grass verge and it was about this time the witnesses became aware of the smell of alcohol.

The fiscal said: “One witness opened the car door to speak to the accused and could smell a powerful smell of alcohol. He then took the keys from the ignition.

“The accused then told officers he could not get the car into gear. He then failed a roadside test and was taken to a local police station, where he provided the lower reading.”

Solicitor Andrew Mellor said that his retired client had voluntarily given up his licence since the incident in January.

Mr Mellor added that Patterson had suffered a heart attack three years ago and had subsequently developed a problem with alcohol.

Sheriff Kenneth McGowan fined him £500 and banned him from the road for 12 months.

Patterson admitted to driving a vehicle with 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath at East Lorimer Place, Cockenzie, on January 14. The limit is 22mg.