Ayshire drink driver was five times the limit

Dec 18 2009 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A BOOZED-up woman got behind the wheel when she was more than FIVE times the legal limit.

A sheriff told Allison Knox insisted that he’s only ever witnessed one other case with such a high reading in his 20 year career.

Knox, 37, was jailed this week after she admitted getting behind the wheel after a booze binge.

She crashed in to two parked cars when she drove from her home address in Symington’s Brewlands Drive into Brewlands Road.

At Ayr Sheriff Court, she pleaded guilty to having 179 mls of alcohol in 100 mls of breath. The legal limit is 35 mls.

Jailing her for 90 days, Sheriff Colin Miller slammed the first offender.

He said: “Only once in a career on the bench spanning some 20 years have I ever seen a level of alcohol so bad.

“You must have been almost comatose.

“I’d be failing in my public duty if I did not mark this offence with a custodial sentence.”

Depute fiscal Erin Campbell told Sheriff Miller that Knox was driving along the street on July 11 this year.

She crashed into two stationary and parked cars.

When police arrived at the scene they found her in the driver’s seat.

Defence lawyer Martin Duffy told the court that Knox had taken to drinking after personal problems in her life.

He added: “I’ve advised her that custody will no doubt be in the forefront of his Lordship’s mind.”

Superintendent John Hazlett praised the sentence and condemned like-minded drink drivers.

He said: “It is very disappointing that despite the many high profile police campaigns aimed at deterring drink driving there are still people who break the law and put other people’s lives at risk, as well as their own.

“In this particular case the level of alcohol was extremely high and this has been reflected in the custodial sentence passed by the court.

“Hopefully this will be a sharp reminder particularly at this time of the year during the many festive celebrations that drink driving will not be tolerated and may result in a prison sentence.”