Doctor who was five times over limit is banned from the road

A DISGRACED doctor has been blasted by drink-driving campaigners after she was caught at almost five times over the limit.

Dr Claire Nelson was arrested by police after a shocked onlooker had watched her fall "flat on her face" in a car park.

Nelson, a 35-year-old GP, had been spotted swerving her Toyota Celica car outside a restaurant in Harthill, Lanarkshire, in March this year.

A witness had watched as she crashed the car, then staggered around the car park to study the damage. The horrified onlooker was forced to intervene and confiscate Nelson's keys after the GP fell face first on to the ground.

The police were called and a breathalyser test on Nelson, of Hamilton, later gave a reading of 172 micrograms of alcohol. The limit is 35.

Nelson told police: "I am guilty" and admitted the charge at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

Yesterday, Sheriff Thomas Millar placed her on probation for 18 months and banned her from the road for two years.

Carole Whittingham, of the Campaign against Drinking and Driving,

said: "It's disappointing that such an influential person would choose to drink and drive."