A sheriff has shown leniency to a disqualified driver caught behind the wheel on the A9 at Perth.
Deborah Cameron, who was jailed for eight months and banned for 12 years following a high speed police chase in 2018, narrowly avoided another prison sentence after her lawyer stressed she “didn’t have her troubles to seek”.
Perth Sheriff Court heard the 40-year-old had shattered her jaw and cracked her skull after falling from scaffolding.
And she had undergone extensive surgery after being mauled by a dog.
Cameron appeared in the dock with her bags packed and using a walking cane.
She admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance at Broxden on April 25 2021.
She was tagged and banned for a further 10 years.
Sheriff William Wood said it would be “counter-intuitive” to send her to jail and praised her for a highly positive background report.
Stay home order
The sheriff said: “I can’t see any constructive benefit by a custodial sentence.
“Although society does demand a certain amount of retribution, it would be counter-intuitive given the amount of progress Ms Cameron has made over the last four years.”
He told her: “Had you come before me any sooner, jail may have been an inevitability in light of your record.
“This is not the first time you have driven while disqualified.
“But having read through the various background reports, I can’t see any merit to sending you to prison now.
“However, the court must mark its displeasure because you flouted the law on so many occasions.”
Cameron, of Wigtoun Place, Cumbernauld, was placed on a Restriction of Liberty curfew for 23 weeks and must stay home between 7pm and 7am.
“This is not going to be an easy option for you, especially now the weather is improving and everyone else is out enjoying themselves while you are confined to the curtilage of your home,” said Sheriff Wood.
He added: “I’ve rarely read such a positive report, or seen such a positive outcome, from a drug treatment and testing order, so you are to be commended for that.
“It’s hoped you won’t slip back into your old ways.”
High speed pursuit
Cameron previously admitted driving dangerously, while disqualified and while unfit through drink or drugs in Motherwell on November 8, 2018.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard she was pursued by police through Motherwell and Bellshill.
At one point she kept going after spinning across the road, mounting the pavement and crashing into a fence.
She also drove on the wrong side of the road, narrowly missing other cars.
Her lawyer told Perth Sheriff Court: “She has certainly not had an easy life.
“She fell from scaffolding as your Lordship can see, effectively smashing up the right side of her body.
“She needed two hip replacements, had her jaw smashed and suffered a fractured skull.”
He added: “She also had four operations as the result of a dog attack in 2020.
“She certainly has not had her troubles to seek and remains unfit to work.”
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