Spritzer takes fizz out of holiday mood for drink-drive woman

A glass of wine and lemonade has cost an Angus woman her licence after driving to pick up a foreign adaptor plug before jetting off to the sun.

Lyndsay Dixon hit a parked car in Carnoustie around 10pm, telling police who discovered her to be more than twice the legal limit when they breathalysed her: “I didn’t realise a spritzer was so strong.”

Dixon, 44, of Thompson Avenue, Carnoustie, appeared before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar where she admitted driving with excess alcohol on Dundee Street, Carnoustie, on September 20.

Her breath alcohol reading was 50 microgrammes, against a legal limit of 22.

Depute fiscal Laura Mcgillvery said another motorist going in the opposition direction had stopped when they saw Dixon driving towards them.

“The accused attempted to reverse into a space but collided with a white Audi and the alarm was triggered,” said the fiscal.

“The witness spoke to the accused and believed her to be under the influence.

“She contacted her husband and told him to call police,” added the fiscal.

Officers arrived on the scene at 10.30pm and arrested Dixon before taking her to Arbroath police office.

Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said: “She was due to go on holiday the next day, had been packing and had a glass of wine and lemonade.

“She realised she was missing some foreign adaptor plugs and drove to get them.

“She has clearly suffered the consequences of this error of judgment.”

Sheriff Murray fined Dixon £400 and imposed a one-year ban.