A CARDRONA woman who admitted driving while more than FIVE times the alcohol limit has been banned from the road for 16 months at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Fifty three year old Julie Dennison pleaded guilty to driving with a breath/alcohol count of 113 microgrammes  - the legal limit being 22 - on the A72 road between Cardrona and Innerleithen on Monday, June 3.

She also admitted a dangerous driving charge.

Depute fiscal Mark Keane explained that the incident began at around 11.40am when a couple were travelling eastwards along the A72 and came up behind the accused's car.

He said:"She was driving very slowly and was swerving  into the other lane and back and hitting a grass verge.

"The driver of the car behind felt the safest thing to do was overtake the Peugeot but the accused became annoyed at this and began to tailgate

the other car and was flashing her lights.

"When the driver got into the 30mph zone in Peebles Road, Innerleithen he pulled over to let the accused past but she pulled over and got out of the car.  She appeared to be drunk and unsteady on her feet.

"The police were contacted. The accused attempted to get back into the car but was prevented from doing so."

Police officers attended at around midday and found Dennison to be under the influence of alcohol.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client was under a great deal of stress at the time of the offences.

He said she had consumed some alcohol after the incident but accepted she was over the limit at the time of driving.

In addition to the 16 months disqualification, Dennison was ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work in the community.