Fife woman swigged from vodka bottle before attempting to drive

A Bonnybank woman has been banned from driving after being caught more than six times over the limit.

Joanna August appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court where she admitted one charge of being under the influence on October 19.

The 35-year-old was seen walking into a shop at Bishops Court in Kennoway where she purchased a half bottle of vodka before going back to her parked car outside.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said: “At around 2.45pm, a witness was working as a shop assistant at the Co-op and served the accused who bought a bottle of vodka.

“At the same time, two witnesses were driving to the shops at Bishops Court in Kennoway and saw the accused come out from the shop and staggered between parked cars.

“They remarked that they hoped she wasn’t driving as she appeared to be drunk. The accused got into the Vauxhall Zafira. As they approached, they saw the accused drink from a bottle and started to film the incident.”

He added: “The accused reversed before moving backward and forwards a few times as she attempted to move out of the space before colliding with a car.”

Police were called to the scene where they found August behind the wheel of the vehicle.

She was breathalysed by the officers and recorded a reading of 138 microgrammes. The legal limit is 22.

Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist said: “Given the extraordinarily high reading, I’m going to call for the full range of background reports.”

She will be sentenced on December 14 and was given an interim driving ban.