A drunk driver smashed into six of her neighbours’ cars after downing a bottle-and-a-half of Baileys.
Maria Mills left a trail of destruction in her Perth street, before being tackled to the ground by residents when she tried to drive away in her battered Chevrolet Captiva.
The 39-year-old Perth mum, who attacked two neighbours when they came to her aid, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted driving dangerously and under the influence of alcohol on February 5.
She was more than three times the legal limit at the time.
Mills was told it was lucky nobody was hurt during the late night debacle.
Crash set off alarms
The court heard that Mills’ partner visited her home in Glengarry Road at about 11pm.
“He observed that she was alone and consuming alcohol within,” said fiscal depute David Currie.
“He knows the accused very well and described her as being intoxicated.”
The prosecutor said the pair began to argue and the partner left just before 1am.
“He watched the accused leaving the address with car keys in hand,” Mr Currie said.
“At this time, a neighbour heard the accused’s car engine start. He saw it accelerate down the street.
“The neighbour then heard a loud bang and the sound of alarms going off.
“He went outside, but by that time the accused’s vehicle was nowhere in sight.”
Mr Currie said: “Three other witnesses also overheard the collision outside their homes.
“Kieran Bruce went outside and observed significant rear end damage to his vehicle. The bumper had been removed and the car had shunted forward, causing it to collide with another vehicle.
“The second car was left dented and crumpled,” said Mr Currie. “That also bumped forward into the vehicle in front.
“All three were dented and damaged.”
Tried to leave the scene
The fiscal depute said other witnesses also heard the noise of three other cars being hit further down the street.
“The accused’s vehicle was observed on a pavement,” said Mr Currie.
“Witnesses observed the accused in the driver’s seat and banged on the window.
“The accused attempted to drive off towards Edinburgh Road.
“However, damage to the car was so extensive it began locking and malfunctioning.
“At that time, Mr Bruce managed to reach into the accused’s window and removed the keys from the ignition.”
Mills got out of the car and pushed Mr Bruce to the chest.
She swung a punch towards another resident who tried to intervene.
“The accused was restrained and various other neighbours came out onto the street,” said Mr Currie.
“Police had received a number of calls relating to the same incident.
“Officers attended and traced the accused on the ground, next to the vehicle.
“They noticed a strong smell of alcohol on her breath and her speech was slurred.”
Mills was taken to hospital for a check-up, before being transferred to Dundee’s Police HQ.
There, she was breathalysed and gave a reading of 67 mics of alcohol in 100 litres of breath. The legal limit is 22.
‘Thoroughly sickened’ by behaviour
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: “Ms Mills appears as a first offender.
“This was the result of a very unfortunate set of circumstances.”
She said: “She had fallen out with her partner on the phone, before he came round that night.
“Her mood was particularly low and she had consumed the best part of one-and-a-half bottles of Baileys cream liqueur.”
Ms Cullerton said: “She has a vague memory of picking up the car keys.
“She does recall getting out of the car and being pinned to the ground.”
The court heard that Mills was “thoroughly sickened” by her behaviour.
“It is very fortunate there were no injuries as a result of this,” said Ms Cullerton.
Sheriff Andrew Mackie told Mills: “It is a pity that you find yourself in court over something like this, given that you have an otherwise unblemished record.
“Thankfully, the consequences were not as serious as they could have been.”
The sheriff said that a financial penalty was “inappropriate” as it could end up impacting her children.
He ordered Mills to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and banned her from driving for 16 months.
“This has all the hallmarks of an uncharacteristic episode and it is unlikely we will see you in court again,” the sheriff told Mills.
