A drink-driver who was more than four times the limit was caught after struggling to get out of an airport car park.
Michelle Nairn was spotted by staff at Aberdeen International Airport sitting at the exit barrier to the short stay car park in her white Land Rover Freelander.
After sitting stationary at the gate for a while, the 44-year-old tried to put coins into the ticket machine.
And when she finally decided to ask staff for help, they could smell alcohol on her breath and contacted the police.
Yesterday the mother-of-two appeared at the city’s sheriff court and admitted getting behind the wheel with 203 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood on June 5 this year. The legal limit is 50mg.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend said: “Witnesses said the female driver of the car was trying to put coins into the slots which are meant for the tickets.
“When she was unable to get through the barrier she went to the customer service window to ask for help and was instructed that she needed a ticket to exit.”
Mr Townsend said that when she told staff she didn’t have a ticket, she was ordered to fill out a form which was “illegible”.
He said she was also unsteady on her feet and slurring her words.
The court heard that the police were called and she was asked to carry out two preliminary breath tests. These both came back with differing results so a sample of blood was then taken.
Representing the first offender, solicitor Christopher Maitland said his client was ashamed and embarrassed by her actions.
He said she had no idea she had a problem with alcohol until the incident that day. He said she had since been to the doctor who has diagnosed her as suffering from anxiety and depression.
Sheriff Alison Stirling said Nairn, of Easter Place, Portlethen, had committed a serious offence, and had been “visibly drunk” that day.
She fined her £600 and disqualified her from driving for 20 months.
