Four-times drink driver banned pending background report

A FOUR times-plus drinks driver is facing a lengthy disqualification and a fine and could lose her car.
Mary Cowie's Y-registered Ford Focus was impounded by the sheriff at Wick today, after she admitted driving with excess alcohol.
Police stopped the 64-year-old, on her way home, three miles from Thurso, late on Saturday night after becoming concerned about her driving.
Cowie, of Aspen Bank, Banks Road, Watten, smelled of drink and her speech was slurred. Tests revealed a breath-alcohol level of 98mgs - the legal limit is now 22mgs. The accused was said to have committed a similar offence 2012.
Solicitor Fiona Macdonald said that the inevitable lengthy period of disqualification would cause Cowie considerable problems in getting to her work at Scrabster.
Sheriff Andrew Berry called for a report to ascertain whether there were any underlying problems relevant to Cowie's repeat offending. The sheriff granted a motion by fiscal David Barclay to have the accused's Y-registered Ford Focus impounded.
Cowie will return to court for sentence on January 22 when the sheriff will rule of the question of forfeiture. She is meantime subject to an interim disqualification.