Drunk driver nabbed after trip for more wine

Women spotted getting into car with bottle of booze

A sozzled teaching assistant was out buying even more booze when she was reported for drink driving, a court was told.

Tanked-up Christine Hunter, 58, was spotted buying wine at a shop and staggering into her grey Ford Fiesta 1.2 L while visibly under the influence, sparking public safety fears.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard a well-meaning passerby even attempted to flag Hunter down and stop her from driving off, but he was unable to stop the Barrhead classroom worker from driving off in her motor.

Fiscal depute Carol Cameron said: “At around 9.30pm on November 10, the accused was captured on CCTV leaving a convenience store at Cross Arthurlie Street holding what appeared to be a bottle of wine.

“She made her way to the car. The CCTV operator had cause to believe the accused was under the influence of alcohol because of her actions in getting into the vehicle and attempting to drive off.

“The CCTV operator saw a man attempting to stop the accused from driving away, however she did manage to make off.

“Police officers were actioned to attend the locus and soon traced the accused.”

The court heard moments later cops went to Hunter’s home where they checked her car’s exhaust and bonnet, which showed the Fiesta had been recently driven.

The fiscal added: “Police attended her address at around 9.43pm.

“She allowed them in. She was clearly under the influence of alcohol and smelling strongly of alcohol.

“Officers checked who the registered keeper of the vehicle was and requested the driver’s details at the time.

“The accused replied: ‘It was me.”

Hunter, of Lochlibo Road in the town, blew a breath test and was taken to the police station where she recorded a reading of 97 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 22 micrograms.

Defence agent Matt Lynch said: “She is a 58- year- old divorcee who has been driving for 38 years without incident.

“She works at a local school as a pupils’ assistant and looks after her son who is in his early 20s.

“She also cares for her 94-year- old mum.”

The lawyer added the drinkdriving rap came as “a bit of a warning to her,” about her drinking.

He said: “There have been various difficulties in keeping a full- time job, looking after her elderly mum and looking after her son, and the pressure has caused her to turn to alcohol.”

Sheriff Frances McCartney handed the accused an interim disqualification and continued matters to call for criminal justice social work reports.

Hunter will learn of her fate when she returns for sentencing on January 11.

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