A CROSSGATES woman’s erratic driving resulted in her being stopped by an off-duty police officer.

Iona Coupar, 64, of Droverhall Avenue, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

She admitted that on September 4, on the B9157 near Aberdour and Braefoot Bay, she was driving a car when unfit to do so through drink or drugs.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said that at around 6.35pm, an off-duty police officer became concerned at Coupar’s erratic driving.

She went on: “Her car was behind his and he could see she was swerving all over the road, continually crossing on to the other carriageway and striking the verge.”

The officer contacted his on-duty colleagues and then continued to drive, following her.

“She crashed into a verge and her car looked like it might overturn,” added the depute.

The off-duty officer decided he would have to stop her car and she pulled into the staff car park at Braefoot Bay. He blocked the entrance so she could not leave.

He identified himself as a police officer but Coupar began falling asleep, sitting at the wheel. A passenger in the car said he was “shaken” by the way she had been driving and left the scene.

When police officers arrived, Coupar was snoring and they had difficulty waking her up.

Defence solicitor James Moncrieff said his client’s condition was due to drugs she had taken because of a headache but she had not checked what they were.

Sheriff Charles Macnair fined Coupar £575 and banned her from driving for 16 months.