Driver found drunkon hersofa

A Perthshire woman was found lying drunk in her living room after police were alerted she had driven off in her car to get more booze.

Officers on patrol were given details of the vehicle and a search was made of the main street in Auchterarder, along with local shops.

But that proved fruitless, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

In the meantime 46-year-old Donna Dixon of St Serf’s Place, Auchterarder, had returned home with two small bottles which her husband suspected contained vodka.

“He poured them down the sink,” depute fiscal Bill Kermode told Perth Sheriff Court.

He then contacted the police and told them his wife had returned home.

She was asked to provide a breath test but when she was taken to Perth police headquarters she failed to provide a breath sample.

Her refusal proved costly when she was fined £1080 and disqualified for 70 weeks.

She admitted failing to provide the breath specimens on August 13.

When police arrived at Dixon’s home around 4.30pm they discovered the front brakes on the car were still warm.

She was lying on the sofa and was described as heavily intoxicated.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton said Dixon had experienced recent difficulties and had turned to alcohol.

“She has now realised, as a result of this offence, that can’t continue and has been referred to the Tayside Council on Alcohol,” the lawyer said.

Sheriff William Wood told Dixon: “I have to take account of your persistence in going out to get more alcohol, which was an aggravating factor.”

She was given 28 days to pay the fine.