A hunt was launched for a Dunfermline drink-driver who abandoned his damaged car at the side of the road in the early hours of the morning.

Police dogs tracked 20-year-old Luca Dinolfi who had legged it from the scene and tried to evade officers by hiding in woodland.

Dinolfi, of Dunnock Street, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing.

He admitted that on November 26 last year on the A921 near Moss-side Cottages, near Dalgety Bay, he drove having consumed excess alcohol.

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His reading was 159 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine, the limit being 67 milligrammes.

Depute fiscal Amy Robertson said at around 3.50am police were contacted about a suspected drink driver who had been involved in a collision then left the scene.

Officers found a Ford Fiesta which had been left at the side of the road with significant damage including a shattered windscreen.

The keys were still in the ignition but the driver was missing and an extensive search was started which involved bringing in extra officers and a dog unit.

At 5.15am the dog unit tracked Dinolfi down to an industrial estate and he said he had been hiding in the woods.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said: “He’s made a stupid mistake. He’d been drinking at his girlfriend’s house. They had an argument and he drove off.”

Sheriff Susan Duff imposed a one-year driving ban but this could be reduced to just nine months if he completes the drink-driver rehabilitation course.

Dinolfi was also fined £420.