A panicking Angus pensioner who fled the scene of a supermarket car crash was found to be nearly four times the legal limit following the mid-afternoon bump.
Valerie Campbell left the keys in the ignition of her car when the other driver involved started to remonstrate with her in Arbroath’s Cairnie Street shortly before 3pm.
Only 15 minutes later police traced the 62-year-old at home with a glass of wine in her hand and an alcohol reading of 85 microgrammes – well above the legal limit of 22.
Campbell appeared before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar Sheriff Court where she admitted charges of careless driving and driving with excess alcohol on June 1.
Depute fiscal Laura McGillvery said the driver of the other vehicle had looked in his rear view mirror while driving on Cairnie Street at 2.45pm. He saw a Volkswagen Up approaching at a speed he thought would leave the car struggling to stop without a collision.
The front nearside of Campbell’s car struck the offside of the other car, causing damage to both vehicles.
“The accused remained in her car and initially tried to reverse away,” the fiscal told the court.
“The witness recognised the accused and a verbal exchange took place between the parties.
“Police were contacted, he turned his back and then turned round again and saw the accused had left the locus with the keys of the ignition in her car.
“At 3pm the accused was traced within her home in possession of a wine glass, which was immediately taken from her.”
Campbell told police: “I know I‘m going to get done. I know I went into the back of him but he didn’t have to shout and swear.
“I know I’m guilty, I didn’t mean to do what I did.”
Defence solicitor Keith Sim said his client had a long-standing alcohol problem and had been drinking heavily the night before.
“She had gone to Tesco to do her shopping, misjudged the junction and collided with the other car.
“The other driver was unhappy with her conduct and she panicked and left,” he added.
Sheriff Murray fined Campbell £500 and banned her from the road for a year.
