Uni lecturer who was five times over drink-drive limit banned

A Scottish University lecturer has been banned from the roads for driving while five times over the limit and her car was found on its roof.

The details emerged this week when Stevenson appeared in the dock at the citys sheriff court to be sentenced for driving while five-times the drink-drive limit on May 12 this year. Picture: John Devlin

Judith Stevenston, 37, a member of teaching staff at the University of Glasgow, was caught after she went on a night out with a friend last month.

Following a drinking session she got behind the wheel of her Ford Fiesta and ended up being arrested by police after the vehicle was found upside down in the middle of a Glasgow street.

The details emerged this week when Stevenson appeared in the dock at the city’s sheriff court to be sentenced for driving while five-times the drink-drive limit on May 12 this year.

She had earlier pleaded guilty to having 110 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is just 22mcg, and sentence had been deferred for her to be assessed by social workers.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Annmaria Colquhoun told Sheriff Ian Miller that Stevenson’s Ford Fiesta was spotted lying on it’s roof in Southpark Avenue, near Glasgow University’s Library, at 11.30pm on the day in question.

The prosecutor explained: “Witnesses became aware of a car on its roof. The accused was standing nearby and identified herself as the driver.”
Defence solicitor Laura Greer said Stevenson had made the decision to get behind the wheel following a drinking session.

She explained: “Her intention was to get a taxi home with her friend however they got into an argument. She accepts she got in to the car that night and she drove.

“She did require slight medical treatment. She describes herself as being very lucky.”

Stevenson is part-time PhD student and teaches mental health on the level 1 and 2 psychology course.

Sheriff Miller ruled he could deal with her case without sending the first offender to jail and placed her on a Community Payback Order.

As he ordered her to complete 190 hours’ unpaid work over the next six months, he said: “The most important factor has to be the level of the reading raising the issue of public safety.

“Quite how your car came to be upturned on its roof I don’t know - and I’m not going to speculate.”

She was banned from driving for three years.

Stevenson researches body focused repetitive behaviours, such as hair-pulling disorder and skin-picking.

Peter Aitchison, Director of Communications & Public Affairs at the University of Glasgow, said yesterday: “We wouldn’t comment on personnel matters.”