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Case against Maryburgh police officer accused of being drunk in charge is dropped at Inverness Sheriff Court


By Gregor White

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Inverness Sheriff Court
Inverness Sheriff Court

A police officer accused of being drunk in charge of her car in a police headquarters car park has had the case against her dropped.

Fiscal depute Sharon Ralph told Inverness Sheriff Court the charge against Allison Heap (51) was being deserted “pro loco et tempore” or "for this place and time".

Although this leaves open the possibility it could be re-raised in the future it is rare that this happens.

Heap had previously argued in court that, on the occasion when she was found drunk within a vehicle outside Police Scotland headquarters in Inverness, there was no intention on her part to drive.

Her solicitor said that she was simply waiting in the vehicle for someone else to come and drive her home.

An earlier hearing had heard there was a witness who would back that up, along with text messages exchanged to that effect.

Heap was breathalysed after arriving for work at Police Scotland's offices in Old Perth Road, Inverness, at 8am on October 1 after colleagues smelled alcohol on her breath.

She was found to be more than five times the legal drink-drive limit and was previously fined £800 and banned from driving for 16 months for that offence.

The drunk in charge allegation stemmed from a separate incident at the same location on August 6.


View our fact sheet on court reporting here




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