A Moray mum who was six times the drink-drive limit at just 10am crashed her car into a wall.
Isla Gibson was seen trying to drive through her hometown of Buckie and failing to tackle a junction before colliding with a wall outside someone’s home.
The 45-year-old mum-of-two got out, apologised profusely and tried to give her insurance details however witnesses noticed she “didn’t make much sense”.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard how she then locked the 2017 reg black Peugeot and tried to hand the keys to a bystander before walking away from the accident.
Struck into wall when trying to turn
Fiscal depute Karen Poke said the incident happened just before 10am on July 12 last year on Newlands Lane.
“Witnesses observed the vehicle turn into Harbour Street in Buckie and it had crossed onto the other carriageway and continued a short distance,” she said.
“It had then attempted to turn into Newlands Lane however failed to complete the turn and collided with a wall. The occupant of the house came out and saw a lone female in the car.
“The accused got out and apologised profusely then said she was okay.”
When Gibson was asked for her insurance details, though, she tried to give them but “didn’t make much sense”.
When police eventually traced her walking up Newlands Lane she immediately told them she’d “had too much to drink” and repeatedly apologised.
A breath test at Elgin Police Station gave a reading of 137 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood, the legal limit being 22.
Russell pled guilty to a charge of drink-driving.
Blamed lockdown for too much alcohol
Defence agent Clare Russell said her client had been drinking too much during the coronavirus lockdown.
“Mrs Gibson has refrained from consuming alcohol from this date, there has been no repeat,” the solicitor said.
“This was perhaps the short, sharp, shock she needed to overcome what had become a difficulty in her life.
“As with many people in lockdown, her mental health deteriorated. Due to an increased workload and a degree of isolation from not seeing her family, there was an increase in alcohol consumption.”
Ms Russell added that her client had sought help from her line manager and her supportive family since and told the court she’s shown “genuine regret and deep remorse”.
Sheriff Robert McDonald said she’d be banned and fined and “neither of these would be small”.
He handed Gibson, of Rathburn Street, Buckie, a 26-month roads ban and a £940 fine but deemed her suitable for the drink-driver rehabilitation programme to reduce that ban by 25% if completed.
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