The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Woman who defied GP and drove drunk fined
OAP who said dealing with husband’s dementia had driven her to alcohol took back keys at surgery
A pensioner who defied her GP to drive home drunk from a medical appointment said dealing with her late husband’s dementia had driven her to drink.
Christine Kincaid, 71, took her keys back from the concerned doctor and drove 15 miles to her home while she was over the legal limit.
The widow, who runs a dementia support group, said she had developed an alcohol problem after having “a couple of G&Ts to relax at night”.
The Blairgowrie woman, who represented herself at Perth Sheriff Court, said: “I’m quite a sensible person.
“It has been a real eye opener, especially being arrested.
“I have always been involved with charity work but in 2012 my husband was diagnosed with dementia.
“Unless you have dealt with it you don’t realise how horrendous it is. For the next five years I looked after him until he went into a home.
“It was easy to have a couple of G&Ts to relax at night. When he died I was still running a dementia group which dealt with couples. I still do that.
“I have got very good friends and back-up and I’m still dealing with the aftermath of dementia. I would love to get my life back together and I’ve admitted I have an alcohol problem.
“It’s not easy to admit you’ve got an alcohol problem, but if you do admit that is the first step.”
Kincaid, of Lochy Terrace, admitted driving while she was nearly twice the limit in Perth and Blairgowrie on July 8 this year.
Depute fiscal Catriona MacQueen told the court: “At 9.30am the accused attended an appointment with her GP. The GP asked the accused a number of set questions.
“One of those was whether the accused needed to have an alcoholic drink that morning and the accused replied yes. The GP asked if she had driven and she again replied yes.
“The GP and her colleague asked the accused to leave her car keys with them and go for something to eat before driving the car. The accused left her keys behind.
“She returned at 11.45 am and the GP breathalysed her. The GP informed her she was unfit to drive and suggested she stay in the practice until she was under the legal limit.”
Miss MacQueen said Kincaid failed another breath test but insisted she had to leave because she had another appointment to get to in Blairgowrie.
“They handed her the keys as they were unable legally to keep them from her,” she added.
“She was informed that if she did drive they would contact the police.”
Police caught up with Kincaid at home some time later and she told them that she had another “small gin” after she arrived back.
Kincaid was fined £500.
It was easy to have a couple of G&Ts to relax at night. CHRISTINE KINCAID