INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT: Twelve-month ban and fine for Dingwall woman who drove under influence of prescription medicine as police find debris on road
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A Dingwall woman has been banned from the roads after she was seen driving "erratically" while under the influence of prescription medicine.
Police found debris on the A835 Tore to Ullapool road after Suzanne Larkin (36) got behind the wheel while unfit to drive through drugs.
Witnesses had reported her red Audi to officers due to concerns about how it was being driven near the Kessock Bridge just north of Inverness on April 27.
Larkin, of Ross Place, admitted the motoring offence when she appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Fiscal depute Emma Petersen said: "Police received reports of the accused driving a red Audi motor vehicle erratically.
"Police arrived at the locus where she had been seen driving and noticed there had been damage to a vehicle and debris on the road.
"Police then attended at the accused home and found her to be under the influence, with slurred speech and glazed eyes."
Larkin's solicitor Clare Russell told the court that she had taken a number of prescription medicines and thought she was okay to drive.
The drugs included Diazepam for anxiety.
Ms Russell said: "The circumstances were that Ms Larkin was in an abusive relationship.
"As a result she was prescribed the medication.
"She has since got out of the relationship."
As well as a 12 month driving ban Sheriff Robert Frazer also imposed a fine of £400.
The sheriff added: "You're fortunate that this is not more serious than it is."
