A cleaner from Brechin fractured her partner’s spine and injured herself in a drunken crash after coming back from watching a football match.
Claire Cheyne had been watching a Qatar World Cup quarter final at a friend’s house before she decided to drive home while over the limit.
Police arrived at the scene of a crash to find her slumped over the steering wheel of her car, with her partner lying in the middle of the road.
Paramedics and firefighters attended on the A935 shortly after midnight on December 9.
The first offender was banned for 18 months at Forfar Sheriff Court.
The crash
Fiscal depute Sam Craib said: “The accused drove at about midnight.
“Her partner was in the front seat.
“Around 12.30am, police travelling towards Montrose came across the accused’s vehicle heavily damaged and in the middle of the road.”
Cheyne was in the driver’s seat and police detected a strong smell of alcohol coming from the 44-year-old.
Fire crews and ambulance staff attended and both Cheyne and her partner were treated at the scene.
Cheyne had suffered a fractured left arm and had a large cut to the crown of her head, which required stitches.
Her partner suffered a fractured spine.
She confirmed she was the driver and failed the roadside test.
Lost jobs and car
In the dock, she admitted driving with excess alcohol (134mgs/ 50).
Solicitor Sarah Russo said her client had lost both her part-time cleaning jobs and the car had been written off.
Ms Russo said: “She appears as a genuine first offender.
“During that particular period in her life, there were a number of stressors.
“On this day, she went to watch a football match at a friend’s house.
“She had consumed alcohol. She has no recollection of getting in her car.
“The result was a road traffic accident.”
Sheriff Garry Sutherland banned Cheyne, of Hillview in Brechin, for 18 months and fined her £320.
He said: “This is, of course, very unfortunate.
“Worse, you don’t actually know yourself why this happened.
“No doubt you suffered a significant financial loss.
“You suffered personally, as has your partner.
“Notwithstanding that, I still need to sentence you.”
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