Off the road for 70 weeks

A Strath woman was found lying drunk on the sofa 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 the local branch of the Co-op supermarket and other 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 HQ, she failed to provide a breath sample for analysis.

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

She admitted failing, without reasonable excuse, to provide the breath specimens at the Barrack Street police office on August 13 last year.

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

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

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton said she 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.”

She was willing to get assistance from them.

Imposing the fine and ban, Sheriff William Wood told her:“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.