Drink-drive mother jailed for endangering child

Published on Thursday 21 August 2008 12:27

A MOTHER whose child raised the alarm when she was drunk behind the wheel was jailed for 80 days today.

The 35-year-old was caught driving at more than five times over the alcohol limit with her five-year-old child in the car.

A passer-by in Falkirk, central Scotland, called police after seeing the youngster banging on the rear window and hearing shouts of "stop mummy driving".

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted two road offences and a charge of endangering a child following the incident in July.

She was sentenced to 80 days in jail at Falkirk Sheriff Court today.

The court heard how the concerned passer-by shouted at the woman to stop but she continued driving erratically, mounting the pavement and hitting a fence.

She was then spotted leaving the car by a witness who said her speech was slurred.

The court heard that the mother attempted to get back into the car but one of the passers-by took the keys from the ignition.

Sheriff William Gilchrist, who banned the woman from driving for three years, said she had committed "a very serious offence".

He said: "It endangered yourself and members of the public. It's maybe even worse however, that you had your five-year-old child in the car."