Worried motorists tailed drink-driver along A9

Woman was five times legal limit and consumed wine while driving

Motorists tailed a drink-driver for miles along the A9 in Perthshire desperately trying to stop her from crashing into oncoming traffic.

Jacqueline Williamson was five times the legal limit as she careered along one of the country’s most dangerous roads on the evening of April 16.

She repeatedly drifted into the opposite carriageway, into the path of oncoming vehicles, causing them to swerve to avoid a collision.

Perth Sheriff Court heard the 60-yearold, of Blair Atholl, had been drinking before getting behind the wheel, but had also consumed at least part of a bottle of wine in the car.

Williamson was told she had been “a danger to other road users” and warned she could have faced imprisonment, even though it was her first criminal conviction.

Depute fiscal Jennifer Johnson said a family of four had been travelling north from Edinburgh when they first spotted her Skoda Citigo.

She said: “They saw the vehicle swerving all over the road, at times entering the opposite carriageway in the face of oncoming traffic and forcing drivers to take evasive action.

“Witnesses tried to gain her attention by repeatedly sounding their horn and flashing their lights but she appeared not to notice.

“They even activated their hazard lights to warn other road users and then continued to follow her for several miles trying to gain her attention.”

The witnesses eventually left the A9 at Ballinluig and saw Williamson turn-off at the same junction, before stopping at the Red Brolly Inn.

They approached her car and as they did so the accused shouted something unintelligible and then attempted to drive off, only to stall.

One of the witnesses then reached through the window of the car and removed the keys from the ignition.

Ms Johnson added: “She got out of the vehicle and said she was sorry, before begging those present not to call the police.

“When officers arrived they found her to be smelling strongly of alcohol and discovered an empty wine bottle in the back of her car.

“She gave a positive roadside breath test and admitted ‘It’s my car. I have been drinking tonight’.”

Solicitor David Holmes said personal problems had led his client to seek solace in alcohol but she was now seeking help for those problems.

“This matter is one of profound regret for Mrs Williamson,” he said.

“It is out of character and will never be repeated.”

Sheriff William Wood disqualified her from driving for 30 months and ordered her to pay a £1,500 fine.

He said: “This matter will be one of considerable embarrassment and shame to you but here you are.

“You should have realised that having an extra drink in the car would always be a bad idea, particularly when you were travelling on the A9, a notoriously dangerous road.

“You were a danger to others.”