An Auchterarder student broke down in tears as she admitted driving through her home town while more than six times the legal alcohol limit.
Lauren Walker , 19, of Bridgewater Avenue was reported to police for her “erratic” driving on December 18 last year.
A witness said her Vauxhall Corsa swerved over the carriageway and nearly collided with multiple stationary vehicles.
She appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and pled guilty to driving with excess alcohol (137mics/22) on the A824 between its junction with Ochil Road and the Crown car park.
But Sheriff Andrew Berry fined her £325 and banned her for 16 months but urged her: “stop beating yourself up, you have the rest of your life to live.”
David Holmes, defending, said the car had already been “disposed of”.
“She is hugely remorseful,” he said.
Demolition derby
Cars were damaged during a demolition derby by body shop repair manager Leslie Amos, 49, who left a trail of destruction after leaving a pub in Falkland, Fife. His son Ryan Amos, 22, attacked two concerned witnesses in the street during the same incident.
Urged pupils to fight
A 39-year-old woman tried to instigate a fight between two pupils at a Dunfermline secondary school.
Sarah Guthrie, Linburn Road, Dunfermline, also threatened one teenage boy that she would just “pay someone £20” to assault him.
Procurator fiscal depute Jill Currie told Dunfermline Sheriff Court the incident happened at the front door of the school in September 2021.
One of the boys had earlier ignored a Facebook friend request from Guthrie.
At the end of the school day, Guthrie approached the 14-year-old and the boy started recording their conversation on his mobile phone.
The fiscal depute said: “The accused wanted the complainer to have a stand up fight (with the other boy) before making a threat towards him she would pay someone to assault him”.
On the recording Guthrie was heard saying she would make sure no one else “jumps in”.
When the boy replied “no one was fighting anyone,” Guthrie said: “It will be a f***ing one-on-one fight and I will be watching.”
She then made the £20 threat.
Guthrie pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Defence lawyer Aime Allan said the school was not made aware of a bullying issue but one of the boys was “having difficulties” with the other.
Sheriff Susan Duff told Guthrie her behaviour was a “terrible example” to give children.
The sheriff deferred sentence for six months for Guthrie to be of good behaviour.
Cowboy trader
An Angus joiner who failed to complete promised work, defrauding tens of thousands of pounds from unsuspecting customers, has narrowly avoided jail. Lawrence Kettles, 52, scammed three customers over bathroom, kitchen and boiler jobs in Dundee and Carnoustie.
Automatic issues
A police officer had to leap out of the way of a Forfar driver who could not control his automatic courtesy car.
After Alistair Birse dangerously overtook an unmarked squad car on the A933 near Colliston in Angus, officers began to follow the 29-year-old.
They watched him turn onto an unclassified road near Woodville on the wrong side of the road and while continuing to follow, requested a marked vehicle attend.
After initially failing to stop for the unmarked police car, Birse reversed towards a marked vehicle suddenly and collided with the passenger door.
A constable had to take evasive action to avoid being struck.
At an earlier hearing, Birse, of Lilybank Crescent, Forfar, admitted driving dangerously on September 27 2019 and missing a court date last August.
His solicitor Keith Sym said: “He thought this vehicle was chasing him.
“He didn’t know it was police – he thought he was being pursued in some road rage incident.
“When he saw the marked police vehicles, he stopped.
“He was in an automatic courtesy car. He’s used to driving a manual.
“He hadn’t appreciated the vehicle was in gear.
“He wasn’t intending to collide with anybody, not least a police officer.”
At Forfar Sheriff Court, Sheriff Krista Johnston ordered Birse to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for 18 months.
He must resit the extended test before driving again.
Spitting mad
Raegan McGregor from Dundee assaulted a police officer after getting turfed off a train at Perth Railway Station. The 27-year-old single mum spat in the face of the PC as she was placed in the back of a police van.
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