A PENSIONER drove the wrong way on the A90 dual carriageway near Brechin after her mind wandered over her fears of catching a hospital superbug, a court heard yesterday.

Retired nurse Jeannie Anne Rhynd or Calder (84) drove into the path of oncoming traffic as she worried about the infection after being told she would have to go into hospital in Dundee for an operation.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard the widow, who has held a clean driving licence for 40 years, was right to worry as she did contract MRSA during her stay.

Calder, of Caledonian Road, Brechin, admitted driving dangerously when her case called before Sheriff Kevin Veal.

Calder, who was not present in court, pleaded guilty to driving north on the southbound carriageway, near its slip road with the B966 Brechin-Edzell road, causing a car to take evasive action in order to avoid a collision on August 10.

Depute fiscal Brian Bell said around 7 pm two motorists heading south became aware of her car emerging from the turn-off in the wrong direction, turning right on to the outside lane and into the direction of travel.

Mr Bell said one of the drivers, travelling at 70 mph, saw her car and had to quickly change lanes “in order to avoid a high-speed collision.”

Police in Grampian and Tayside were alerted to the car but, by the time they arrived, it had turned off and was not traced.

A passenger in one of the cars had, however, recognised the woman as living near him and police went to her home.

“She indicated to police ‘I was driving out to Edzell for the bingo’,” Mr Bell said.

John Denning, defending, said, “On the day in question, her mind was on other things. She had been notified of an operation in Ninewells Hospital and she was concerned about catching the hospital bug MRSA, which she did while there.

“She is very remorseful and regretful over what might have happened.

“As a consequence, she has instructed me to surrender her licence to the court.”

Mr Denning said she had given an undertaking not to seek another licence or get back behind the wheel of a car. The pensioner was also in the process of disposing of her car.

Sheriff Veal said the potential outcome of her driving could have been “quite awful.”

He fined her £200 and banned her from driving for two years, ordering her to resit the extended test before getting her licence back.

But he continued, “I make this order in the knowledge she is relinquishing her licence and will not be driving again.”