A HOSPITALITY worker who called police to report Paisley singer Paolo Nutini for boozing before getting behind the wheel has been convicted of drink-driving.

Colin May contacted the cops to report the New Shoes star after seeing him drinking vodkas in a pub in their home town.

But 31-year-old Mr Nutini – who was arrested and charged as a result of May phoning the police in February 2017 – was found not guilty after a trial at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Less than two months after he reported the chart star, May was caught behind the wheel while under the influence.

Paisley’s Justice of the Peace Court heard that May was in his red Audi A3 hatchback on April 17 last year when he came to the attention of officers in Corsebar Road, Paisley, and failed a roadside breath test.

He was taken to a police station, where blood samples revealed he had 67 milligrammes in 100ml of blood – just over the 50mg limit.

May, of Strathdon Avenue, Paisley, pleaded guilty to a charge of drink-driving, in breach of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

He was fined £300 and banned from driving for 12 months for the offence.

May, 33, was the first witness called during Mr Nutini’s trial, telling the court he had been drinking in the same pub as the singer on the night in question.

He said he saw Mr Nutini and his friends buying rounds of vodkas in De Beers pub in Paisley town centre.

May told the trial: “I witnessed him and a male he was with both order drinks for each other at the bar.

“They were buying rounds. I believe it was vodkas.”

May said he phoned police after seeing Mr Nutini behind the wheel of his Mini with a mystery woman after he had left the pub.

He added: “I could see at least one individual in the car with him – a female.

“My thoughts were that I’d seen him drinking in the bar, having more than what would be the legal limit.

“I was a bit thrown and continued my journey home, then called police to report what I’d seen.

“I said I had seen the car in question being driven by an individual whom I believed to be drinking previous to driving.”

May conceded he did know for sure what the singer was drinking and could not say whether it had been vodkas or soda water and lime.

Mr Nutini gave evidence in his own defence during his trial, saying he had three vodkas in the pub, drove home and then drank two single malt whiskies and had “a mouthful of wine” before police arrived at his door.

He blew 48mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – more than double the legal limit – after being detained by officers.

Mr Nutini then told them: “I feel like the drink I had after said charge may have affected this.”

The singer was cleared after Karen Kerr, a forensic toxicologist with the Scottish Police Authority, said he could have been under the limit at the time of driving.