A retired teacher who sat in her car drinking wine before almost causing a head-on smash has been banned from the road.
Pensioner Lesley Barton decided to get out a book and open a bottle of wine when she parked up early for an appointment.
The 66-year-old then decided not to go to her meeting and drove home along Tullibardine Road in Auchterarder.
Perth Sheriff Court heard Barton was involved in a near-miss with another motorist, who called police and attempted to block her vehicle.
Barton, of Colt Gardens, appeared in the dock and admitted being more than two-and-a-half times the limit when she got behind the wheel of her Ford Fiesta on March 17.
Evasive action
Fiscal depute Stuart Hamilton told the court: “At around 6pm, a witness was driving through Auchterarder, when his attention was drawn to the accused’s vehicle driving towards him.
”It drifted into the wrong side of the road and approached his vehicle.”
He said: “The witness described the accused as showing no reaction in any way.
“She moved towards his car before swerving past.
“The witness had to take evasive action to avoid a collision.”
The court heard the driver turned around and began following Barton’s vehicle.
“He followed for a short distance,” the prosecutor said.
“The accused was driving extremely slowly, holding back a queue of multiple vehicles.
“The witness approached her when she stopped and challenged her regarding her driving.
“Her speech appeared to be slurred.
“She became hostile and agitated and was attempting to hide an open bottle of wine, which was on the back seat of the car.”
The man stood in front of the car and attempted to block her in.
“When she became aware that police were on their way, she simply took off,” said Mr Hamilton.
“Officers attended at her address a short time later.
“They noted her car was still warm, sitting in the garage.
“She identified herself as the driver and failed a breath test.”
About two-and-a-half hours later, she recorded a reading of 55 mics of alcohol per 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 22 mics.
Embarrassed and ashamed
Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said her client had no criminal history.
“Hopefully this will be the first and last time she finds herself before the court.
“She is embarrassed and ashamed of her behaviour.”
Ms Clark said: “On this day Ms Barton had gone out and stopped at the supermarket to pick up various items, including a bottle of wine for family dinner that night.
“She then drove on to a pre-arranged meeting but arrived early and parked up outside.
“She started passing the time by reading a book.
“For some reason she then opened the bottle of wine and drank it using a plastic glass.
“She did not attend the meeting.
“Instead, she had another glass of wine before turning around and making her way home.”
Ms Clark said Barton was “alarmed” when she found herself blocked in by the other driver.
“She was fully cooperative with police,” she said.
“She is retired but understands that voluntary work that she does will have to come to an end.”
Sheriff Mungo Bovey disqualified Barton from driving for 16 months and fined her £1,000.
“A substantial financial penalty is appropriate,” he said.
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