A north-east mum claimed she was stressed about her daughter working on the front line against coronavirus when she caused a pile-up involving three other cars.
Jacqueline Butler, of Sheddocksley Drive, pleaded guilty to careless driving and drink driving and was banned from the road for 12 months and fined £600 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Her lawyer Gregor Kelly had unsuccessfully pleaded for Sheriff Philip Mann to consider the “prevailing circumstances” at the time.
Fiscal depute, Lynne Macvicor, said all three vehicles were “extensively damaged” during the incident on Saturday, April 4, at Sheddocksley Road.
Butler abandoned her car in the road as she “had to go and see her partner” in the aftermath.
Mr Kelly said his client was “absolutely mortified” but was in a “state of angst” when the crash occurred.
The 51-year-old had just discovered her work hours would be cut and her daughter, who works as a medical scientist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, would be working on the front line.
Her daughter’s safety was said to spark an argument with her fiance at dinner when he left and she drank alcohol with her meal.
She got in her red Vauxhall Corsa to try and find him, Mr Kelly said, and while driving she thought she saw a black cat and accidentally accelerated instead of braking – causing the pile-up.
Butler had a 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 22.
