Drink-driving pensioner more than three times over limit

A 71-year-old woman was more than three times over the limit when she hit the kerb of a roundabout and smashed into a van.

Marjorie Pooley, of Inchmickery Road, Dalgety Bay, admitted drink-driving when she appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Pooley gave a reading of 156 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood – the legal limit being 50 milligrammes – following the incident, which happened on October 14 in Western Access Road, Dalgety Bay.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said another woman saw Pooley’s car being driven too fast to negotiate a roundabout at around 11.40am.

“She hit the kerb and stayed up on it as she went around, before losing control and going over into the opposite carriageway,” the depute continued.

“She then swerved back and collided with a parked Ford Transit van, forcing it forward into another parked vehicle.”

Pooley stayed in her vehicle and the police were contacted. She was taken to the Victoria Hospital for a check-up.

Defence solicitor Sarah Meehan said: “My client is a first offender and has held a driving licence for 42 years with no blemish on it until now. “It’s highly unfortunate that she finds herself in this situation.” She added that her client had been drinking to deal with the stress of being a carer for her husband.

Sheriff Alison McKay said: “While I appreciate you got a fright, you put other road users at risk.”

She disqualified Pooley for two years and fined her £600.