The BBC reports that John Johnston, 27, admitted committing the offence in Dumfries at the weekend.

He was spotted by a CCTV operator in the early hours of the morning and stopped by police on the town’s Buccleuch Street.

He admitted taking the road roller without consent and driving while almost double the legal alcohol limit. Sentence was deferred.

Johnston told the court “I had been drinking and was just trying to find my way home.”

Solicitor Roger Colledge told the court that Johnston, who had a licence to drive other vehicles of that type, had relocated from Belfast to Dumfries and had gone out for a drink with a friend.

They had become separated and Johnston was confused about how to get home and had taken the road roller.

Sentence was deferred for a month for background reports.