A “weary” Church of Scotland trainee minister caused a road accident after administering to her flock on very little sleep.
Susan Christian from Arbroath “shunted” another vehicle with her car on the A92 and smashed its rear window in April this year.
The 52-year-old appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court, which heard the assistant minister is working with a Broughty Ferry church and hopes to have her own ministry next year.
Defence agent Robin Beattie said his client had spent a full day working and had not been able to sleep the night before, leading to a “momentary lapse in judgement”.
Mr Beattie said Christian, originally from Australia, had “effectively gone 28 hours without any sleep”.
Fiscal depute Isma Mukhtar said: “The road was clear and visibility was good.
“The complainer was driving the car around 4pm, travelling east in the direction of Arbroath.
“He became aware of another vehicle behind him that was getting closer.
“Without warning, he felt a shunt in the rear of the car and began to slow down.”
Ms Mukhtar said the driver felt another “shunt” and “the rear window shattered at that point”.
“Both of the vehicles came to a stop in the left hand lane,” she added.
“The accused was subsequently cautioned and charged and made no reply.
“The accused stated to the officers she didn’t know what had happened and had merely lost concentration.”
Mr Beattie said: “She’s currently appointed as an assistant minister with the Church of Scotland at the New Kirk in Broughty Ferry.
“She’s currently learning to become a full-fledged minister and hopes to get her own ministry in the next six months or so.”
Mr Beattie said his client had 30 years of driving experience and had no points on her licence.
The first offender admitted a charge of careless driving on the A92 near the Monifieth to Carnoustie slip road on April 6, failing to keep a proper lookout for vehicles and causing her Hyundai Getz to collide with another car, causing damage to both.
Fining Christian £450 and endorsing her licence with five penalty points, Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said that her tiredness was an “aggravating factor” in the offence.
