An Angus driver was so drunk she fell asleep in the back of a police car after being arrested, a court has heard.
Jane Webster, of Chapman Drive, Carnoustie, drove on the A930 Carnoustie to Muirdrum road on April 22, with an excess alcohol reading of 382 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
Appearing at Arbroath Sheriff Court, the 52-year-old was banned for four years and handed a £400 fine.
The court heard Webster had been involved in an accident at about 6.35pm.
Depute fiscal Chris McIntosh said: ”The accused seemed to be heavily under the influence of alcohol. The police found the accused to be slurring her words so she was arrested.
”She then fell asleep in the back of the police car and was unable to be wakened. So concerned were the police that the ambulance was called for.”
Paramedics found Webster had fallen into a deep sleep due to the amount of alcohol she had consumed. At about 11.30pm, five hours after the arrest, a police surgeon took a blood reading which showed she was still more than three times over the limit.
In the days prior to the crash she had suffered a slight stroke and had attended at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for treatment and was later given an MRI scan.
Webster’s defence agent said she had three adult children, two of whom still lived at home with her.
He said Webster had been suffering from various ”stresses and strains” at the time of the incident and had long-term depression after the breakdown of her marriage and the failure of a subsequent relationship.
He added: ”Her personal life was not particularly great at this juncture. She began drinking heavily on the day in question and she badly regrets her behaviour.”
Sheriff Peter Paterson said: ”I don’t think it is necessary to lecture you about the seriousness of this matter you understand how significant it is.”
Webster was given 28 days to pay her fine in full.