Courts in Moray: Three first-time offenders given driving bans
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Three first-time offenders have all lost their driving licences following hearings at Elgin Sheriff Court.
In the first case the defendant tried to hand over her car keys to a stranger following a collision.
Isla Gibson's vehicle had clipped a garden wall while turning onto Newland's Lane in Buckie at 10am during the morning of July 13 last year.
Fiscal depute Karen Poke stated the defendant had given her name and address to the occupant of the house, but was described as "not making much sense".
Having apologised profusely and attempted without success to hand over her keys, Gibson then walked off, leaving her car at the scene.
The police located her soon afterwards, having been provided with a description of what she looks like.
Ms Poke said: "The defendant walked towards them and admitted that she'd had too much to drink."
A breath test later gave a reading of 137 – more than six times the legal limit of 22.
Defence solicitor Clare Russell said that her 45-year-old client had developed a drink problem during lockdown.
She added that Gibson, of Rathburn Street, Buckie, had not touched alcohol since, describing the incident as "the straw that broke the camel's back".
Ms Russell said: "She feels genuine regret and deep remorse. There is very little chance that she will ever be before the court again."
Passing sentence, Sheriff Robert McDonald said: "It's a very high reading. However I'm satisfied from hearing Miss Russell that you are taking steps to address the situation."
Gibson was banned for 26 months and fined £940.
The second case saw a motorist turn around and head back home after nearing a busy road.
Stephen Monro had driven off after getting into a domestic row during the Christmas holidays last year.
The 52-year-old left his property at Coltfield Road, Alves, for a short time on December 28.
Defence solicitor Grant Dalgleish said: "It's a back country road. But before getting to the A96 he realised what a catastrophic error he was making."
Monro was fined £520 and received a one-year ban.
In the last of the three cases, Teresa MacLeman was also fined £520 and banned for a year.
The 42-year-old from Carron Street, Nairn, was stopped at 3am on Stotfield Road, Lossiemouth, on July 23.
The court heard she had driven a very short distance following an argument at a house nearby.
A breath test revealed a reading of 74.
Her defence solicitor Matthew O'Neil said: "She's deeply remorseful to be before the court. She's not the type of person who we are are going to see back in here any time soon."
