A woman caught drink-driving at five times the legal limit was spared a tagging order today after a sheriff was told the consequences of the conviction for her work could be "significant".
Lucinda Knowles' employment details were not made public after her lawyer claimed it was "a sensitive case".
Knowles, 55, was appearing for sentence at Falkirk Sheriff Court after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to her second drink-driving offence within 10 years.
Sentence had been deferred for reports.
Knowles was driving a Renault G-Scenic Dynamique on March 6th this year with excess alcohol.
The incident occurred on the B902 road near Bellsdyke, Larbert, in Stirlingshire.
She provided a sample of breath for analysis that proved on analysis to contain 110 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres. The legal limit is 22.
Last month she failed in a bid to have her case heard in secret.
Knowles, of Fulmar Crescent, Larbert, tendered her plea in open court after a sheriff rejected an application by her lawyers, heard in chambers, for the case to be heard behind closed doors.
No reason for the unusual request was given in open court.
Today her solicitor, Philip Cohen, said his client had not been working since last year (2020), but hoped to return to her employment.
Referring to a social inquiry report put before the sheriff but not read out in court, he said: "This is obviously a fairly sensitive case in terms of background, as your Lordship will have read, and obviously the consequences so far as her work is concerned may be significant.
"But her hope is to put this behind her, to return to work. There were fairly significant issues in her personal life. She is aware that any fine would be substantial."
Sheriff Derek Livingston said that "for various reasons" he was prepared to impose a financial penalty, rather than a restriction of liberty order, which would have required Knowles to wear an electronic ankle bracelet and stick to a curfew.
He fined her £1040 and banned her from driving for 40 months.
But he gave her the opportunity to take part in the drink-driver's rehabilitation scheme, which if successfully completed could see her back on the road in only 30 months.
He said: "The drink drive level she was at would make her quite dangerous, quite apart from it being her second conviction. She was exactly five times the current legal drink-drive limit. I can understand that people may take refuge in one thing or another.
"I entirely accept that when some people have difficulties in their personal life, that may lead them to drink. What it shouldn't do is lead them to drive as well."
The court heard Knowles had a previous conviction for drink-driving, dating from 2012, when she was around three times the legal limit.
