A drink driver was caught four times the legal limit with a baby on her knee.
Marilyn Robertson was approached by police officers after she was caught behind a serious road accident in September.
They hoped she might be a witness to what had happened but when she rolled down her window they were assailed by the strong smell of alcohol.
Perth Sheriff Court heard officers had found a baby sitting on her lap, while a second child was also within her vehicle.
Depute Fiscal Bill Kermode said: “The accused was travelling in a car with two young children.
“She was forced to come to a halt because of a road traffic accident where two vehicles had collided in the road.
“Numerous police units attended and an Inspector approached the accused’s vehicle to ask if she had seen anything.
“She appeared irrational and was acting in what he describes as a bizarre manner.
“He reports that she was also smelling strongly of alcohol.
“She placed her vehicle in reverse and began to drive backwards. There was a child in her lap at the time.
“The inspector asked her to stop and she did. He then reached through the driver’s window and took the keys from the ignition.”
Mr Kermode said the 35-year-old have given a positive breath test at the roadside.
Robertson, of Kinclaven Road in Murthly, subsequently admitted driving a car with excess alcohol (87 mics) on September 1 last year on the B9099 at Murthly.
The legal limit is just 22 mics.
Solicitor Paul Ralph told the court: “I understand that it was a serious road accident.
“A number of vehicles had been stopped for some time and that is why the child was out of their car seat.
“She was reversing slowly with the child in her lap.”
Mr Ralph accepted his client had an alcohol problem but said she had self-referred to Tayside Council on Alcohol and was seeking help.
Sheriff William Wood told Robertson, who has a previous conviction for drink driving, that: “The fortunate thing about this incident is that you got caught.
“You may think it unfortunate but getting caught has led to intervention that may benefit you greatly.”
He placed Robertson on a community payback order requiring her to carry out 135 hours on unpaid work and disqualified her from driving for three years.
She was also placed under the supervision of social workers for the next nine months.
“I am concerned that without supervision you may commit more alcohol-related offences,” the sheriff said.
