INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT: Woman spotted drug driving in dressing gown failed to appear in court because her house burnt down

A woman has admitted drug driving after police spotted her in a dressing gown.

However Stephanie Stewart (34) failed to appear in court after her house burnt down.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard Stewart, of the city's Bruce Gardens, was found with drug traces in her system on July 7 last year at her home address.

Fiscal depute David Morton said she was seen by officers around 4.45am behind the wheel on a nearby street.

Mr Morton said: “Police officers' attention was drawn to the vehicle Ms Stewart was driving as she had a dressing gown on.

“She was seen to stumble out the vehicle.

“Officers were of the view that she was impaired.”

When taken into custody the mother of six was found to have 251 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood.

The legal agreed threshold is 50 micrograms.

Stewart appeared from custody at court having been taken in by police on a warrant for failing to appear when the case originally called.

Defence agent Rory Gowans said: “She failed to appear as her house was burned down in a fire.

“She lost all her worldly belongings including court letters.”

He added that his client did not currently hold a driving licence and had no business being behind the wheel whether fit to do so or not.

Sheriff Robert Frazer disqualified Stewart from driving for two years and fined her £250 due to her personal circumstances.