An Angus teenager’s hopes of a new life in Australia are in the balance after her “very stupid” decision to drive more than 50 miles down the A90 while three times above the legal alcohol limit.
Emily Slater had been due to stay with a friend but after a fall-out, drove down more than 50 miles of the A90 to Kirriemuir in the early hours.
An ambulance crew who saw the young woman on the route were so concerned by the manner of her driving they raised the alarm and when police caught up with her in Kirriemuir she gave a roadside breath test reading of 70 microgrammes – more than three times the legal limit of 22.
The 18-year-old first offender, of Glengate, Kirriemuir was then taken to police headquarters where she registered a lower count of 61 mics, the level with which she admitted driving on Riverside Road, Aberdeen; the A90 and in Kirriemuir on September 7.
Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said the accused had gone to Aberdeen the previous night to stay with a friend and had been drinking throughout the night.
“In the early hours there was some kind of falling out, the accused left and effectively drove back from Aberdeen,” said Mr Duncan.
“Police were contacted due to a suspicion that she was driving her car home, and around 5.10am also received a call from ambulance control after one of their crews had been concerned about the manner of driving on a vehicle on the A90.”
Slater was eventually caught just before 6am in Kirriemuir.
Her solicitor said the teenager had pled guilty at the earliest opportunity to an offence for which she was “extremely remorseful”.
“She has never been in trouble before and realises the seriousness of her actions.”
The lawyer added: “She has a plan to go to Australia and has secured employment, but is unsure how this will impact on her visa.
“She will be discussing the issue with her immigration officer, but is extremely remorseful about this.
“She had consumed a large amount of alcohol, there was a falling out and she was thrown out of her friend’s home, then made a very stupid decision to drive.”
Noting Slater’s lack of any previous convictions, Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown at Forfar fined the teenager £335 – discounted from £500 for her early plea – and banned her from driving for a year.
