Social worker banned for drink-driving

Published on Friday 18 July 2008 10:43

A SOCIAL work manager has been banned from driving after being caught at almost three times the legal alcohol limit.

Ann Giles, 58, was fined 430 and disqualified for 12 months after being stopped on her way from a party.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard she was found to have 96 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood – the legal limit is 35.

The court heard how Giles, of Thirlestone Road, was stopped by police just after midnight on a Thursday after officers became worried about her erratic driving in Queen's Drive.

Officers smelled the alcohol on her breath and she failed a roadside breath test.

Her defence solicitor, Jim Grant, said she was at a loss to explain the incident, saying it was "uncharacteristic" for the first-time offender who was "mortified" to be in court.

He asked Sheriff Elizabeth Jarvie to be as lenient as possible over the June 26 offence and asked that his client be considered for drink-driving rehabilitation.

But Sheriff Jarvie said Giles did not need rehabilitation and simply should have known better.

She said: "She is an intelligent woman and she knows she should not have done it."