A north midwife’s career is under threat after she admitted throwing a log at her estranged husband’s car.
Tracy Miller is required to disclose any criminal conviction to her employers, and her solicitor yesterday appealed to Wick Sheriff Court to consider wiping the slate clean by granting her an absolute discharge.
However, Sheriff Andrew Berry said he wanted greater insight into the background and called for a report from social workers.
The court heard that difficulties had arisen in the couple’s 10-year marriage. They now intend to divorce.
David Barclay, prosecuting, said that on September 19, Miller met her husband at the former family home at Millbank, John O’ Groats.
He said: “Discussions had not borne fruit and it appears that as she left the house, she lifted a log from a pile nearby and tossed it. It struck Mr Miller’s car causing minor damage. He was the only witness to the incident and it appears, that, given the state of the relationship, it was perhaps the catalyst to the matter being reported to the police.”
Mr Barclay added that discussions included an ongoing dispute about the ownership of the car.
Solicitor George Mathers said that Miller, who is staying with her father, at Rowena, John O’ Groats, was “a respectable, hardworking woman”, a first offender and a state-registered nursing midwife.
He continued: “She is extremely worried that she may not be able to resume her career.”
Mr Mathers said Miller had called at the house to collect some belongings and discuss matters, which “didn’t go too well”.
He added: “While leaving, she tripped over a log and, in a reckless manner, tossed it away. She didn’t intend it to hit her husband’s car. It hit his car causing a small dent on the bonnet.”
He said that Miller had suffered stress and anxiety but had benefited from medical help.
Mr Mathers appealed for an absolute discharge, stating: “Mrs Miller very much hopes to resume her nursing and midwifery career but this conviction would require to be disclosed which might well be the end of it.”
Sheriff Berry said that Miller’s life had not been without difficulty in recent times in what was “a strained relationship” but he wanted to have the fullest possible information in dealing with the matter.
Miller, who pleaded guilty to reckless damage, will reappear for sentence on January 23.