‘Guilty as charged’: pensioner drove the wrong way on A90

Woman drove at 70mph and pled guilty but case will not proceed

A pensioner who admitted ignoring other drivers as she sped along the wrong side of the dual carriageway at 70 miles per hour has had the case against her dropped.

Karen Hutchins, 66, drove for six miles as she ignored numerous horrified drivers who flashed their lights at her to alert her that she was going the wrong way on the A90.

She continued driving east in the overtaking lane of the westbound dual carriageway and was seen to maintain speeds up to the national speed limit.

Hutchins admitted being responsible for the incident and told police who stopped her: “Guilty as charged. I have done it.”

She then sent a letter pleading guilty to Perth Sheriff Court and the Crown narrated full details of her driving after accepting the guilty plea last autumn.

Depute fiscal Carol Whyte told the court: “At 3am another road user was travelling from Dundee towards Perth. He could see the accused’s vehicle heading towards him in what would be the overtaking lane, on the wrong side of the dual carriageway.

“There were a number of other road users flashing their headlights as a warning to others. The accused continued to drive on the wrong side of the road at an estimated speed of 60 to 70mph. The police received calls from other road users and they were able to stop her while she was still on the wrong side of the road.”

Hutchins passed a roadside breath test and told arresting officers she was: “Guilty as charged. I have done it.”

Hutchins, Carhampton Road, Sutton Coldfield, admitted driving dangerously and on the wrong side of the road between Inchmichael and Longforgan on the A9 on November 6 2016.

Hutchins pled guilty by letter and sentence was deferred for the preparation of background reports and for her to appear in person. A solicitor subsequently appeared on her behalf and asked if she could withdraw her guilty plea on the basis of legal advice she had been given.

She was allowed to withdraw the plea and was due to appear at the court this week in relation to the charge. But the case was not called and no explanation was given to the court. The prosecutor confirmed the case had been marked as no further proceedings.

There were a number of other road users flashing their headlights as a warning to others. DEPUTE FISCAL CAROL WHYTE