An author and charity boss who ploughed her SUV into a roundabout after drinking her husband’s wine in revenge for his infidelity has been disqualified from driving.
Claire Crisp, 52, was found by police, crying, on a wall close to her damaged Honda CRV last month after driving it into the roundabout.
Police could smell alcohol on her breath and decided to conduct a roadside test, which returned a positive result (75/22) – more than three times the legal limit.
Crisp is listed as a director of Sleep Consortium Inc and has written books on her experience with family narcolepsy.
Crashed in Crail
Depute fiscal Larissa Milligan told the court: “At around 7:45pm a number of calls were made to police by members of the public in regard to a suspected drink-driver.
“She had crashed into the roundabout outside the Co-Op in Crail High Street.
“One member of the public had taken her keys from her possession as they could smell alcohol on her breath.
“PC Craig and Sergeant Elder were radioed to attend the scene.
“They observed the vehicle had a damaged bumper.
“The accused was sat on a wall nearby, crying. She smelled strongly of alcohol.
“She said she had gone out to get lunch for her daughter.
“She provided a positive roadside breath test and was arrested.”
Drank wine as ‘revenge’
Her defence solicitor said the day had been a traumatic one for his client.
“She had drunk wine. She does not normally drink.
“She discovered her husband of 30 years had been having an affair.
“It was his wine and it may have been drunk as a ‘small revenge’.
“She is the manager of two charities.
“She made a decision here, which was foolish.
“She lost sight of her responsibilities to the public at large.”
Sentencing
Sheriff John Rafferty disqualified Crisp from obtaining a driving licence for 14 months, reduced from 18 in light of her early plea.
He said: “You chose to deliberately get behind the wheel of a car after having a considerable amount of alcohol.”
Crisp, of West New Hall, Kingsbarns, St Andrews, was also fined £400.
