Alcoholic spared a ban... to get to AA

A CONVICTED drink-driver who was found in a drunken stupor at the wheel has been allowed to keep her licence – so she can attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

A sheriff decided not to ban Aldona Gilruth after being told she would not be able to get to the regular counselling sessions.

Perth Sheriff Court heard how the 41-yearold, pictured, was discovered slumped in her car. When officers knocked on the window, she was so intoxicated she failed to respond and they had to break in to reach her.

Fiscal depute Robbie Brown told the court: ‘Her vehicle was found at 9.30pm by officers. She was slumped in the driver’s seat, apparently asleep. The accused had clearly been drinking.

‘She wasn’t particularly responsive and ignored the officers as they tried to gain entry. They had to force entry. She was taken to police HQ where she simply refused to co-operate with them. The only comment she made was that she was tired and wanted a cigarette.’

Gilruth admitted refusing to give a breath specimen on February 27 this year after being found in her car in Old Scone, Perthshire.

Solicitor John McLaughlin, defending, said: ‘She is an alcoholic and had been regularly attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. She had not had anything to drink since 2016.

‘Tragically, a few days before this, a person she described as a best friend committed suicide... she felt the only way to deal with it was to drive to a remote location and get drunk alone. She planned to spend the whole night drinking herself stupid then walking home.

‘She attends three or four AA meetings a week. They are at night and she drives to each of them. I would ask the court to let her keep her licence so she can continue to get this support.’

Sheriff William Wood told Gilruth, of Guildtown, Perthshire, that ‘in light of the circumstances’ and because of the steps she had taken to address her problem, he would not issue a driving ban. He imposed ten penalty points and fined her £630. In 2012, Gilruth was banned for 15 months and fined £600 for drink-driving.