Ballingry woman was battling with chronic pain

Mary-Ellen Murphy was also given an 18 month driving ban for the offence when she appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

She had previously admitted that on Centre Street, Kelty, and Ballingry Street, Lochgelly, and roads in between, she drove after consuming alcohol.

She was found to have 111 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when exceeded the legal limit of 22.

Depute Fiscal, Alastair McDermott, said a witness noticed Murphy come out of a house at around 11.30pm and get into her vehicle.

"She reversed it out of the driveway and gently struck another car then drove into a lamp post three times before driving away," he told the Court. "The police were contacted and the accused was traced."

Solicitor, Elaine Buist, said her client had been struggling to cope with her own chronic pain and caring for her mother who is in her nineties.

She added: "It is quite clear it was very poor decision making."

Sheriff Charles Macnair told Murphy it had been a "very high reading" before telling her he was prepared to give her a non custodial sentence.

He placed Murphy on a community payback order requiring her to do 150 hours of unpaid work within six months.

He banned her from driving for 18 months, however, if she takes part in the drink driving rehabilitation programme, her disqualification will be reduced by three months.