Fort woman was five times drink-drive limit

Fort William Sheriff Court heard this week how a local woman drove her car while she was five times the drink-drive limit following a row in a pub.

Lindsay Christine Johnstone, 28, of the town’s High Street, appeared for sentencing before Sheriff Bill Taylor this week after having already pleaded guilty at an earlier court appearance. Sentence had been deferred on Johnstone for the compilation of a criminal justice social work report.

Johnstone had admitted driving a car on the B8006 Kilmallie Road in Caol on May 20 this year with an alcohol level of 113mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is 22mcg.

Procurator fiscal Robert Weir said on the day in question, police had received a report of Johnstone driving a car while under the influence. Police officers had attended and stopped Johnstone, who, the court heard, had co-operated fully.

Johnstone’s defence agent, Stephen Kennedy, said his client had parked the car and had gone into a local pub, where she had become involved in the argument with another woman. She had then run out of the pub to get away from the situation and made the mistake of getting into her car and drove away, and it was then that the offence came to light.

‘She acknowledges that her actions were completely unacceptable and has expressed a fair degree of remorse over the matter – she is also a first offender,’ said Mr Kennedy

‘I am convinced this has been a salutory lesson for her and I would suggest that you are unlikely to see her back in this court again.’

Fining Johnstone £600 and banning her from driving for 16 months, Sheriff Taylor told her she could have been fined as much as £900 and have been banned for two years, but for the fact she had admitted her guilt at the earliest opportunity.

Sheriff Taylor said he would certify Johnstone as suitable for the drink-drive rehabilitation course which, if completed successfully, would see her ban reduced from 16 months to a year.