A Dundee woman who endangered a toddler by pushing a pram across a road without looking has avoided jail.
Fiona Winter was seen by two teachers, who quickly realised something was amiss. One offered to help Winter, who said she was going to Perth railway station.
The teacher alerted station staff, who called the police.
Depute fiscal Jim Eodanable told Perth Sheriff Court: “It was about 4.30pm. Two friends who are school teachers with 62 years’ experience between them were travelling together by car.
“They saw the accused pushing the pram, which had a three-year-old in it. From what they saw, they were immediately concerned that something was wrong. The accused was hunched over the pram and one of the witnesses thought she had been taken ill.
“The traffic flow allowed them to slow and wind the window down and the witness called out to the accused. Both teachers formed the view that the accused was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“They watched as the accused pushed the pram across the road. Nothing was coming at this time but they formed the opinion that the accused had not looked to check.”
After police were called, officers noted Winter’s eyes were “glazed” and made the decision to take charge of the girl.
Winter’s solicitor said her client had had problems with drugs but is seeking to undergo treatment. She added the child is no longer in Winter’s care.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said the case was “serious” and Winter was “patently unable to care for the child” because of her condition.
Winter, 35, earlier admitted pushing a three-year-old in a pram on to a road in Perth without looking and while drunk or under the influence of drugs on April 23.
She pleaded guilty to exposing the child to “the likelihood of unnecessary suffering”.
She was sentenced to carry out 130 hours of unpaid work.