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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Gordon Currie

Drink-driving Scots mum downed 40 shots of Baileys and crashed into six parked cars

A mother smashed seven cars during a drunken demolition derby before staggering out and throwing a punch at a witness.

Maria Mills downed around 40 measures of Baileys Irish Cream before driving off and crashing into parked cars worth over £100,000.

She then attacked passers-by as they removed her car keys to prevent further carnage by pushing one and trying to punch another.

The witnesses - who had seen her hit six cars as she careered along just two streets from her front door - eventually had to pin her to the ground.

At Perth Sheriff Court, Mills, 39, admitted driving dangerously and while she was more than three times over the limit in Perth on 5 February.

She admitted crashing her Chevrolet Captiva into a Kia Ceed, a BMW 118, a Kia Rio, a Vauxhall Corsa, a Ford Puma and a Kia XCeed, damaging them all.

She also admitted pushing Kieran Bruce on the body and trying to punch Lewis Carnduff in Gleneagles Road.

Fiscal depute David Currie told the court on that Mills' partner had gone to her home at 11pm and found her to be under the influence of alcohol.

They had an argument and he left after seeing her pick up the car keys shortly before 1 am and head outside to drive off despite being intoxicated.

"He challenged her to stop her driving. He observed her leaving with the keys in her hands. A neighbour down the street saw her start her vehicle and accelerate down the street.

"They heard a loud bang and car alarms going off. The accused's vehicle was no longer in sight. A number of vehicles in Glengarry Road were damaged."

Mr Currie said the owners of three cars - who lived in the street - observed the damage caused by Mills shunting them all before driving off.

Maria Mills appeared at Perth Sheriff Court. (Daily Record)

"Three vehicles were dented and damaged. They noted the silver Chevrolet. Witnesses heard the bang of another vehicle being damaged down the street.

"They saw her vehicle on the pavement. They banged the window, but she tried to drive off. She was driving in an erratic manner and the damage to her car was so severe the locking was malfunctioning.

"A witness was able to remove the keys from the ignition. She left the vehicle and others formed the opinion she was under the opinion of alcohol, due to her demeanour and a smell of alcohol."

At this point, Mills lashed out at the witnesses who had stepped in to prevent further damage, and they had to restrain her on the ground until police arrived.

Maria Mills. (Gordon Currie)

Police Scotland had received numerous calls about Mills' driving and when they arrived they found her on the ground and handcuffed her to take her to hospital and then police HQ.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: "She is a first offender and this is a very unfortunate set of circumstances. She had fallen out with her partner.

"Her mood was particularly low and she had consumed around one and a half bottles of Baileys. She has a vague recollection of picking up the car keys.

"She lost control of the vehicle and hit several parked cars. She does recall being taken out of the vehicle and pinned to the ground.

"By that time she was in a state of distress. She takes full responsibility to each of the offences. She is thoroughly sickened by her behaviour and very much regrets what she has done.

"She was drunk and belligerent at the time of the offences. She describes her behaviour as reckless. She is very fortunate there was no serious injury caused."

Sheriff Andrew Mackie banned Mills from driving for 16 months and ordered her to carry out 200 hours unpaid work in the community.

He said: "It is a pity you find yourself here after having a pretty unblemished record. Thankfully the consequences were not as serious as they might have been.

"This has all the hallmarks of being an isolated and uncharacteristic episode. Nothing like it happened before and it is most unlikely to happen again."

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