A DUNFERMLINE drink-driver who was nearly FIVE times over the limit told members of the public she intended to continue driving when they tried to dissuade her.

Witnesses were so concerned about Kareen McGowan's “erratic” driving that they tailed her to Dalgety Bay, where she stopped for flowers.

McGowan, 43, of 22 Norway Gardens, admitted that on March 27 at Harbour Drive, Dalgety Bay, she drove after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in her blood was 234 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50 milligrammes.

Fiscal depute Craig Donald told Dunfermline Sheriff Court last Wednesday that McGowan had set off from Halbeath Road.

He said: “Witnesses reported her vehicle being driven erratically and at speed, slowing down and speeding up.

“Witnesses followed her vehicle until it reached Harbour Drive where it stopped at a shop.

“At that stage, police were summoned. Officers carried out the usual tests and the readings were obtained.”

Solicitor Jennifer Simpson said McGowan had been driving from her home address to a friend's between noon and 12.30pm.

Ms Simpson explained: “Other witnesses had become concerned about her driving and she stopped at Dalgety Bay to go into a shop to buy flowers for a friend she was visiting.

“She was approached by members of the public who asked if she was going to continue driving and she said she was. They said they would prefer if she didn't.”

The solicitor continued: “She separated from her partner in 2015 and alcohol became problematic. She drank daily and excessive amounts.

“She had been drinking on the day prior to the offence. She received a call from a friend who was very distressed and she drove in the manner described to her friend's. She did not stop to think.”

Ms Simpson said McGowan, who has one previous conviction for speeding, had taken steps to address her alcohol issues, engaged with addiction services and carried out a seven-day detox.

She added: “She has not consumed any alcohol since this incident. It's been completely humiliating for her.”

Sheriff Charles Macnair said: “This was a very high reading, almost five times the new limit and three times the old limit.

“Driving with that much alcohol in your system is potentially lethal and clearly your driving was of poor standard, otherwise the witnesses would not have noticed it.”

He disqualified McGowan for two years and imposed a community payback order of 135 hours' unpaid work, to be completed within six months.