A Dundee student nurse was almost three times the legal limit when she was finally breath tested more than six hours after rolling her car on a rural road.
Charley Falconer escaped serious injury when she crashed into a field in the Sidlaws.
The 19-year-old, of the city’s Foggyley Gardens appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court where she admitted a charge of driving with excess alcohol on the unclassified Kirkton of Auchterhouse to Dronley Road on July 26 this year.
Her breath alcohol reading was 58 microgrammes against a legal limit of 22.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said a single vehicle road accident near Kirkton of Auchterhouse was reported to police just after 6.30am.
“The car had failed to negotiate the junction and driven into the adjoining field,” said the fiscal.
Falconer was taken by ambulance to Ninewells Hospital to be checked over, but was discharged and then taken to Dundee police headquarters.
The court heard the alcohol reading was recorded at 11.45am – more than six hours after the crash was reported.
Solicitor John Boyle said his client had been at a party nearby where a situation had arisen with an ex-boyfriend.
“She panicked and wanted to get home,” he said.
“She has a clean driving licence and has started a nursing degree at Dundee University. The existence of a conviction will cause her some difficulties in the next few years,” added the agent.
Sheriff Gregor Murray told the accused: “I have to go on the reading taken by the police, it would have been a lot higher but I can’t take that into account.”
Falconer was fined £500 and banned from driving for a year.
