A nursery nurse was caught behind the wheel – almost four times over the drink drive limit – after getting upset about a text from her boyfriend.
Lauren McDonald, 24, was driving erratically in her new car on Tillydrone Avenue in Aberdeen when she was followed by police.
She had been drinking all evening when she was stopped, breathalysed and arrested on May 7.
Fiscal depute Andrew Shanks told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “The offence occurred in the early hours, at about 1.35am.
“Two police officers saw the vehicle being driven and had cause to stop it, due to the manner it was being driven at the time.
“She was required to provide a specimen of breath. It was positive and she was arrested.”
McDonald, of Adelphi, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.
Defence agent Liam McAllister told Sheriff Morag McLaughlin: “She now has a very serious conviction against her name. She is understandably disgusted with her conduct. Otherwise, she is a very responsible woman. She works as a nursery nurse.
“On the evening in question, she had been consuming alcohol. She became upset at a situation. She had received a text from her boyfriend.”
He added: “She deeply regrets making possibly the most stupid decision of her life. She is more than aware that it was a significant reading (on the breathalyser).
“She had been consuming alcohol throughout the evening.
“She has not been driving for very long. It is expensive to obtain a driving licence. It has caused her to become quite unwell and she is currently signed off work.
“She completely complied with police officers.
“She is going to have to keep paying considerable finance on her vehicle of nearly £200 per month.”
The sheriff told McDonald: “I’ll deal with you by way of a fine and a disqualification.”
She fined her £800 and banned her from the road for 15 months, which will be reduced to 11 months if she completes a drink-driving rehabilitation scheme.