A taxi driver has been allowed back on the streets of Glasgow after being caught almost three times over the drink drive limit.

James Delaney was given a taxi driver’s licence for three years despite crashing into a parked car while under the influence of alcohol in June 2015.

Licensing committee members were told that after the incident Mr Delaney was traced to a caravan in Stirling and was found to have 89mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – exceeding the 34mg limit.

But Mr Delaney said: “I was fishing, and I had a couple of cans of beer. I caught the car on the front.

“I went into the caravan of the owner and gave them the insurance details. I went back into my caravan and was drinking whisky and an hour and a half later the police came.

“I had drunk three glasses of whisky by the time the police came.”

The committee were told that he had been disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Asked why he wanted to return to taxiing after his driving ban, Mr Delaney added: “I drove my taxi for 21 years and I never had any trouble.

“I got an 18 month ban and then the council gave me a year’s ban.

“I went from earning a good income to nothing. I went into debt.

“I’m not a drinker, I’m working all the time. I’m not making good money labouring and I’m getting too old for it. I’m up and down off roofs and it’s all young boys I’m working with.”

Mr Delaney was granted the licence but was issued a warning over his future conduct.