A panicking motorist was caught drink-driving by cops in Paisley after reporting malicious damage to her motor.
Karn Vandal, 26, was interviewed by police about an alleged attack on her black Kia Xceed in Shortroods on July 19, when she admitted she had been drinking.
PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS: Live news as it happens
Paisley Sheriff Court heard mum-of-two Ms Vandal was then spotted driving her motor about an hour later by cops still patrolling the area.
Procurator fiscal depute Kirsten Brierley said: “At around 4am police attended to speak to the accused, who is the owner of the vehicle, about another unrelated matter.
“On speaking to her they observed her to be intoxicated. She was slurring her words.
“She confirmed she had been consuming alcohol. She said her last drink had been a couple of hours before.”
The court heard the same cops then spotted Ms Vandal driving her motor in Mosslands Road and Inchinnan Road around 5.15am the same morning.
The prosecutor added: “Officers noticed the same vehicle driven by the accused, who stopped and alighted from the driver’s door.
“Police immediately recognised the accused as she had met them earlier.
“She was slurring her words and there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from her.
“The accused said, ‘I have f***** it. That’s a ban.’”
She failed a roadside breath test and was taken into custody.
On Thursday Ms Vandal of Hartfield Terrace, Paisley, pleaded guilty to operating her vehicle when the proportion of alcohol on her breath was 41 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, and the legal limit is 22 micrograms.
Defence agent Bob Kerr said his client’s car had been allegedly targeted by a former partner, which left her terrified, so she reported it to cops.
He said she had attended a barbecue earlier that evening where she had been drinking and was attempting to “hide” her car by parking it outside her aunt’s home, when she was caught by the same police.
He said: “It was necessity that caused her to move it. It is not a defence. She will be going to police to report the matter further.
“Her former partner has been at court on numerous occasions. On the last occasion being remanded.
“And on one occasion her car was destroyed by fire, although there is no proof of direct involvement with the individual.
“She has suffered anxiety, panic attacks and has been very stressed by the whole process.
“She understands even if the car had been damaged or even destroyed she would have been better off leaving it.”
Sheriff Mark Thorley banned her from driving for one year and handed her a £350 fine.
