Woman loses licence for two years after drink-driving

A 46-YEAR- OLD woman is battling her alcohol addiction, Fort William Sheriff Court heard on Friday.

Sharon Kershaw, of Camus Fearna, Glenborrodale, has co- operated fully with police, social services and medical staff and will be under taking treatment.

Kershaw had admitted drink- driving on November 23 last year, on the B8007 near her home, and other offences at her home on January 13 this year when she damaged property and obstructed and hindered the police by struggling with them.

Procurator fiscal Martina Eastwood said Kershaw’s car had been in the path of an oncoming vehicle and they collided head- on. ‘ She got out of the car and walked off to her parents’ home address nearby,’ said the fiscal. ‘An hour later the ambulance was contacted and she was taken to hospital in Fort William.’

In the meantime, the driver of the other car had contacted the police and officers traced Kershaw to hospital where she was given the standard road-side breath test, failed this and gave a sample of blood.

This showed 94 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood; the limit in Scotland is 50.

The other offences occurred when Kershaw was refused drink from a locked drinks cabinet in her parents’ home, became agitated and went to leave, kicking out a glass panel in the window of a log-burning stove as she left. Police were called and the other incident occurred.

Kershaw’s defence agent said she ‘suffered significant alcohol addiction problems’ and had been medically diagnosed ‘having an issue with binge drinking’. ‘She is co operating and she needs professional help.’ Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald banned Kershaw from driving for two years and fined her £240 and for the other offences she was placed on a community pay back order, one of the conditions being one year’s supervision by the social work department.