A high profile police inspector who crashed his car while almost three times over the drink-driving limit has been banned from the roads for 18 months.

Mhorvan Sherrett, of Grampian Police, was also fined �300 and now faces disciplinary action by the force.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the 44-year-old inspector was driving at speeds of up to 90mph when he crashed on a dual carriageway on the outskirts of the city.

The defence for the officer, who has more than 20 years' service with the force, said he had been suffering from psychological problems at the time and his father was terminally ill.

The officer will face disciplinary proceedings

Sherrett was thought to have been driving to his home in the Westhill area of the city when the alarm was raised on 12 April.

Depute fiscal Douglas Monaghan said a female motorist feared that Sherrett would drive into the back of her vehicle on the A944 Aberdeen-Kingswells road.

Mr Monaghan said: "As she approached the roundabout at Kingswells she became aware of the vehicle close behind and almost collided with the rear of her car. The vehicle appeared to be travelling very close behind.

"She tried to get some distance between them and travelled at between 70mph and 75 mph.

"She then became aware of the vehicle pulling into the offside lane and overtaking at a speed which she thought must be around 90mph."

Substantial damage

"It continued to accelerate away from her, mounted the central reservation and then started 'fishtailing' before again mounting the central reservation."

Sherrett's car eventually came to a halt and suffered substantial damage, the court heard.

Officers detected the smell of alcohol on Sherrett's breath and he was found to be over the drink-drive limit.

Sherrett, who admitted drink-driving and driving carelessly, had a previously impeccable record , Sheriff Pamela Bowman was told.

Defence agent, Peter Shepherd, said: "It is my submission that he was mentally ill at the time.

"He has had 26-and-a-half years of unblemished career and is very upset."

Grampian Police said the matter of Sherrett's future was in the hands of the deputy chief constable and there would be no further comment.