A WOMAN who drove at almost six times the new drink drive limit before mounting a pavement, smashing into a wall and destroying a bus stop has been ordered to carry out community work and attend alcohol counselling.
Lana Boyle got into her car on December 20 in Dundee's Forthill Road despite being well over the limit - and set off in the dark without her lights on.
She then "accelerated harshly" and slammed into a kerb - losing control of the car and ploughing into a garden wall, leaving it with a gaping hole.
Boyle - who has a previous conviction for drink driving - then smashed into a bus stop pole and careered into another car.
Debris from the smash then flew into a moving vehicle being driven by Andrew McRitcher.
Fiscal depute Kirsten Thomson told Dunee Sheriff Court that shocked neighbours had gone outside to investigated when they heard a loud bang.
One horrified pensioner said it "was a miracle" no-one was killed.
Joan Culloch, who lives opposite the site of the smash, said: "If anyone had been standing at that bus stop they would've been killed.
"The car ended up across the road. We asked if she was OK and smelled the drink. The car keys were taken off her. She was pleading not to call the police but it was too late for that."
Boyle, 34, of Forthill Road, Dundee, pleaded guilty to charges of careless driving and drink driving.
Defence solicitor Anika Jethwa said: "She has sought professional help since this incident."
Sheriff George Way banned Boyle from driving for 40 months, placed her on a restriction of liberty order for 60 days and imposed a community payback order with supervision and alcohol counselling for 18 months.
He said: "This is your second offence and the reading was shocking.
"You have to have it brought home to you how close you came to a real tragedy here.
"People who commit offences like this put their lives at risk - and also their liberty if they come before a court."
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