An Inverness woman who drove half a mile from her home to buy cider before collapsing on the floor of the supermarket, is to continue to get help for her alcohol problem.
Claire Murray, 51, of 4 Firthview Avenue, suffers ill health and appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday after a period of social work involvement with her.
The court heard that Murray was benefiting from the assistance and Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist said he would “draw a line under this” by imposing a nine-month-long community payback order with a condition that Murray participates in an alcohol programme. She was also banned from driving for 16 months.
At an earlier hearing, the court was told that, after Murray collapsed, she got up and left the Co-op in Telford Street, Inverness, and drove home.
But unemployed Murray was followed home by another driver, who saw her swerving about the road and driving erratically.
The police were called and they traced Murray to her home and she said she had been the driver. Murray admitted driving while more than three times over the permitted drink-drive limit.
Solicitor John MacColl told Sheriff Gilchrist Murray had no recollection of driving on June 22 at about 8.45pm.