CRASH CHAOS DRIVER WAS WASTED BEHIND THE WHEEL
Ron Moore
A heroin addict mum of six ploughed into a motorist after getting behind the wheel while out of her mind on drugs.
Norwil Millar, 36, was falling asleep at the wheel when she mounted a pavement and smashed down a traffic signal before driving off and then ploughing into another vehicle.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Millar, who has been blighted with an addiction to heroin for more than 20 years, sparked chaos when driving while heavily intoxicated by drugs.
Fiscal depute Colin Wilson told the court Millar was at the wheel of her Toyata Avensis when her chaotic driving was spotted by traffic cameras covering the town centre.
He said: “At around 9pm on July 8 last year a
Renfrewshire Council traffic monitor observed a Toyota Avensis had struck a traffic signal and continued onto the central reservation in Paisley Road, Renfrew.
“Police were made aware of the incident by the control room by remote link and they attended in their vehicle where they observed the vehicle was being driven by a female driver.
“They stopped their marked police vehicle in an effort to speak to the accused when she turned right and drove across the junction, in doing so her vehicle struck a Mitsubishi vehicle.
“The accused caused extensive damage to the vehicle driven by Mr Kenneth McLaughlin, who was accompanied by a passenger, Mr Weir, in his car.”
Police went to the crash scene which, blocked the road, where they spoke to Millar and immediately spotted she was heavily under the influence of substances.
The fiscal added: “Police noticed the accused appeared to be under the influence.
“Her speech was slurred. Her eyes were staring, she had a dry mouth, and there were traces of a white substance around her lips. “She was falling asleep at times.” A police computer check revealed Millar was not the owner of the car, nor was she insured, and she didn’t even hold a full licence.
Cops also carried out a breath test which proved negative for alcohol, when they carried out a driving impairment test which the accused failed.
The fiscal added: “On taking her to Greenock police office, officers noticed she kept falling asleep in the car.
“This happened on several occasions. Her head fell from side to side.”
Millar, from Kirklandnuek Road in Renfrew pleaded guilty to charges of driving while unfit through drugs, careless driving, driving without insurance, and to driving without a proper licence.
Defence agent Kevin Brady said it was only “good fortune that her driving in that condition,” didn’t have far more serious consequences. He said: “She has a 20-year drug addiction. “It is a total curse. She is a high academic achiever with a mathematics degree from the University of Strathclyde.
“She has struggled with her addiction for the last 20 years. It began when she was introduced to it by a neighbour.
“She is a mother of six and this issue has led her to having no contact with any of the children.
“She deeply regrets this matter and has admitted responsibilty for the offence by pleading guilty.”
He urged the court to consider handing her a community based disposal to enable her to seek urgent treatment for drug abuse.
Sheriff Susan Sinclair agreed with her lawyer, but she rapped Millar, telling her: “the potential consequences of this are catastrophic.”
She said: “You have a lot of problems but I will impose a sentence as a direct alternative to custody.”
She fined Millar £360, disqualified her from driving or obtaining a licence for 15 months, and handed her a community payback order lasting 18 months, including drug abuse treatment and family support.