Courts in Moray: Damaged car gave drink driver away
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A drink driver was reported to the police after she returned home with a damaged car.
At about 4.20pm on Saturday, September 17, a witness saw Daisy Knight-Rowe pull up outside a property on Calcots Crescent, Elgin.
Noticing the front of the car was damaged, the witness went up to the 27-year-old driver and challenged her as she got out.
Elgin Sheriff court heard that an argument ensued after which the police were called.
Fiscal depute Victoria Silver said: "When officers arrived they formed the impression that the accused was unsteady on her feet and under the influence of alcohol.
"They administered a roadside breath test which she failed."
A second test carried out in Elgin police station at exactly 5.48pm recorded a reading of 84 – nearly four times the legal limit of 22.
The court heard that Knight-Rowe temporarily lost her licence five years ago for drink driving.
The prosecution applied for a notice of forfeiture in relation to her vehicle – a common legal procedure when a defendant has already been banned from the roads before.
However defence solicitor Matthew O'Neill successfully argued against such a notice being imposed.
The lawyer stated that although Knight-Rowe's name appeared at the top of the hire purchase agreement for the vehicle, it was her partner who made the regular monthly payments.
Mr O'Neill added that the partner, who was present in court, relied on the car both for his regular job and for his work as a football referee.
The court heard that, when interviewed at the police station, the defendant had originally claimed: "I wasn't drinking when I went out, I was drinking when I got home. I had a bottle of wine."
Mr O'Neill stated his client had been far more "candid" with the social workers who had later compiled a report for the court.
The lawyer stated that she'd acknowledged having a problem with alcohol.
Sheriff David Sutherland disqualified Knight-Rowe from driving for three years and ordered her to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work for the community.
He also placed her under the supervision of social workers for the next two years to liaise with the alcohol support agency Arrows.
