Ban for Fife driver who was more than three times over limit in crash

Shona Dolny, of Manse Park, appeared before Sheriff James Williamson at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

Dolny, 68, admitted that on November 21 last year at an address in Manse Park, Kennoway she drove a vehicle after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in her breath was 72 microgrammes. The legal limit is 22.

She also admitted on the same date and in the same place she drove a vehicle without due care and attention, failing to maintain a proper lookout and control of her vehicle, colliding with another vehicle and damaging it.

The Procurator Fiscal Depute told the court: “The witness is the owner and keeper of a Ford Transit van and on the date in question at 9pm the witness was at home and heard a bang outside.

"He looked out the window and saw the van was not where he had originally put it.

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"He went outside and saw it had damage to the rear side and the bumper. He also saw a Ford Fiesta car had damage to its front as if it had been in an accident. The accused got out the Ford Fiesta car and apologised for causing the accident, saying her car had swerved coming round the bend.

"She was slurring her words and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Police arrived and saw the accused was in the driving seat of the Ford Fiesta. Officers noticed her eyes were heavy and that she appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. She was placed under arrest.

"The accused said she didn’t do it deliberately. Officers noticed while securing the car that there was a bottle of wine in the passenger footwell. She was taken to the police station and provided a breath test which was 72 microgrammes.”

Her defence lawyer suggested his client could undertake alcohol counselling and be placed in a traffic groupwork programme.

Sheriff Williamson sentenced her to a 12 month Community Payback Order and to take part in alcohol counselling and the traffic groupwork programme. He disqualified her from driving for two years on each charge.

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