Banff drink driver who crashed and flipped car onto roof while transporting her children is banned from roads

A drink-driver who crashed and flipped her car while transporting her children has been banned from the roads.

Sarah MacGregor appeared at Banff Sheriff Court after previously admitting driving while nearly five times over the alcohol limit.

At the earlier hearing, MacGregor, of Ardanes Brae, Banff, pleaded guilty to driving a car after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in her breath was 104 microgrammes in 100 millilitres exceeding the limit of 22mcg in 100ml, at the town’s St Catherine Street on August 26 this year.

Sheriff Robert McDonald deferred sentence on the case so the court could obtain a background report.

The 35-year-old returned to court on Wednesday, October 15, for sentencing.

Fiscal depute Kirsty Martin told the court that MacGregor was driving her Ford Fiesta at the time of the incident travelling with her two children.

Ms Martin said it was 8.15am when a witness within a home heard a loud noise.

The fiscal depute outlined that the witness saw a vehicle on its roof and two small children crawling out the driver side window who were upset and crying for their mum.

The witness then saw MacGregor crawl out the driver side window to hold her two children.

Ms Martin said another witness who attended saw that their vehicle had damage including scratches, a bent wheel and coloured paint on it, which matched MacGregor’s car.

The fiscal depute said that the police attended and surmised that MacGregor’s vehicle had hit the car.

The officers smelt alcohol on MacGregor and carried out a roadside breath test which was positive. She was taken to Fraserburgh police station where she gave the reading outlined in the charge.

MacGregor’s solicitor Alannah Comerford said her client, a first-time offender, had cooperated fully with the police, and social workers for the background report.

Ms Comerford said the report was positive and detailed that MacGregor had a “very deep rooted” addiction to alcohol which she used as a coping mechanism.

She added that her client had difficulties with her mental health and there were other health issues in the family.

The defence agent said MacGregor had been up drinking through the night before to hide it from the rest of the family.

Ms Comerford added: “As soon as this happened she sought help.

“There have been severe consequences with the children now residing with their father. She has very much learned her lesson.”

Sheriff Robert McDonald told MacGregor it was a very high reading at almost five times the legal limit and he had to reflect that in the disqualification period.

MacGregor was banned from the roads for 16 months, ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work over six months and a supervision requirement for 12 months was imposed.