A former hairdresser who once raided a shop dressed in bin bags and crashed a car while five times the limit pleaded with a sheriff to allow her to fight “tooth and nail” to lead a sober life.
Career criminal Denise Caisley smashed her car in Paisley’s Seedhill Road then begged cops “Please don’t tell my mum” when they arrested her.
Caisley, 37, who was serving a 12-year driving ban for a previous drink-drive offence, also spat at a police officer and repeatedly kicked another when they were taking her to the police station.
At Paisley Sheriff Court, Caisley stood in the dock and asked to speak to Sheriff Brian Mohan to give her a chance to lead a sober life rather than a life behind bars.
Standing in the dock, she pleaded: “Before this, I had been sober for two years and attended AA. I came off anti-booze as I thought I was ready, but alcohol took back over my life.
“I want to be sober for the rest of my life.
“I can fight tooth and nail to be sober again.
“I’m hurting my family and disappointing my mum. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
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Sheriff Mohan said: “You are a true Jekyll and Hyde character - when your demon state takes over and you start drinking and you can’t stop.
“It is fortunate with a 109mg reading that you didn’t kill someone.”
Procurator fiscal David McDonald previously told the court: “Around 5.30pm on November 13, Caisley was seen on Lacy Street, in Paisley, and she appeared to be heavily intoxicated with a set of car keys in her hand.
“At 5.45pm, Caisley was involved in a collision in Seedhill Road and, as a result, stopped her car.
“The driver and passenger of the other vehicle got out their car and noted the accused appeared to be very upset and noted she smelt of alcohol.
“Uniformed officers attended and, when speaking with the accused they could also smell alcohol, her eyes were glazed and she was slow to react to simple questions.
“Caisley identified herself as the driver and stated to police officers, ‘please don’t tell my mum’.
“The accused was arrested and, while being taken to the police station, her behaviour deteriorated and she spat at PC Atkinson with the spit landing on the driver’s seat.
“PC Boyce restrained the accused’s head and she began thrashing around.”
Cops pulled Caisley out of the car before she booted one officer several times.
Background checks later revealed she was disqualified from driving in 2015 for 12 years.
The proportion of alcohol in her breath was 109mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mg.
Caisley, a prisoner at Cornton Vale, admitted drink-driving, two police assaults, driving with no insurance and while disqualified. This is Caisley’s fourth conviction for drink-driving.
Defence agent Charlie McCusker told the court how alcohol “gets the better” of Caisley, who used to work as a hairdresser.
Mr McCusker explained: “She is a binge drinker and has some complex mental health problems.
“When she was admitted to custody she applied to see the addictions nurse and she is now on medication and she has also kept fit in custody and coaches the prison netball team.
“She is keen to get back into society and recognises the seriousness of the charges.
“There is shame and regret felt by her as she feels she has let her mother down.
“There is also remorse and gratitude she didn’t hurt anyone.”
In 2017, she was jailed at the High Court for almost four years after she wrapped herself in black bin bags and brandished two large knives, causing customers to flee in terror at the Costcutters store in Barrhead.
On sentencing, Sheriff Brian Mohan said: “I can’t pretend to understand why you drink.
“I hope the combination of disposals will protect you and this sentence of imprisonment will allow you to prepare for your release.”
Sheriff Mohan jailed Caisley for 12 months backdating this to her date of remand on November 15, she was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Caisley was also banned from driving for a further six years and placed under supervision of the social work department for two years with the requirement she undertakes alcohol treatment.
A review hearing was fixed for June 27.
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