A beautician has been banned from the roads for a year after she drove whilst more than twice the legal limit – so she could go and get fast food.
Amy Paterson appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted driving while having 83 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
The court heard Paterson, 29, had been out during the evening of July 5 with some friends.
Solicitor Shane Campbell said she had been drinking in the city centre as her seven-year-old son was staying with his dad for the weekend.
Mr Campbell said she originally took a taxi back to her house in the Bridge of Don and went to sleep. However after she woke up she felt hungry and decided to drive to a branch of McDonald’s at around 3am.
Mr Campbell said she realises now that it was a “foolish decision”.
Fiscal depute Samia Rasheed said that officers had noticed Paterson’s car because of the manner she was driving. When they pulled her over on King Street the noted that she smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring her speech.
A roadside breath test showed she was more than twice the legal limit.
The court heard Paterson, of 16 Jesmond Avenue, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, owns her own beauty business and the loss of her licence would greatly affect her income.
Mr Campbell said she normally earned around £2,000 a month but expected that would decrease significantly as a result of not being able to drive to see clients.
Sentencing, Sheriff Annella Cowan said that she hoped Paterson had learned a “sufficient lesson” and fined her £800. She was also disqualified for one year.