Cromarty unemployed university lecturer caught drink-driving on Kessock Bridge
A 57-year-old unemployed university lecturer who had to give up work due to health issues denied she had a drink problem despite being caught by police with four times the legal amount of alcohol in her system.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that police received a tip-off on December 8 about Sarah Fraser of High Street in Cromarty, driving on the A832 between Cromarty and Fortrose at about 10.30am. Sheriff Gary Aitken heard that she was stopped last year after crossing the Kessock Bridge, had slurred speech and a subsequent test showed she had 88mgs of alcohol in her system when the minimum allowed is 22mcgs.
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She admitted driving with excess alcohol and was fined £840. She was also disqualified from driving for 16 months but certified as suitable for the drink driver rehabilitation course which will earn her a four month discount if she successfully completes it.
Sheriff Aitken asked defence solicitor David Patterson: "Is there an underlying drink problem?"
Mr Patterson replied 'no' and explained: "She drank more than she would normally take the night before until the early hours of the morning."
Sheriff Aitken commented: "She is exceedingly lucky it was the police that stopped her rather than some kind of accident."
