Anne Shopp, 62, said she drank two glasses of wine before going to collect the five-year-old boy from the town’s Knoxland Primary School — she also had a two-year-old child in her car.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard Shopp had turned to drink to cope after the death of her husband and pet dog.

The court heard a member of the public contacted the police at 1.30pm on Tuesday, October 21 concerned that Shopp’s car was being driven by someone who had been drinking and that they were due to pick up a child at the primary school later the day.

Fiscal depute Claire Martin told the court the police went to the school and saw Shopp sittnig outside in a Vauxhall Zafira at around 3pm.

She said: “The accused got out of the car and went to the school and returned a short time later with a young boy.

“She got into the car and drove off down Union Street.

“At the time of the incident she appeared to be working in her capacity as a childminder.” She said the police were unable to safely stop Shopp because of the traffic until she reached Meadow Road, having driven down Glasgow Road and Church Street.

Ms Martin said: “When a police officer approached the car he could smell alcohol and he noted there were two young boys sitting in the car.” Police breathalysed Shopp who tested postive for alcohol. She pleaded guilty to driving while almost double the legal drink drive limit.

Her lawyer, Philip Lafferty, said: “The background is that she came to start using alcohol as a crutch after the death of her husband and also the death of the family dog that stayed with her in the house.” He said her children had left the family home at Helenslee Court, Dumbarton.

Mr Lafferty added: “She was left rattling around in the large family house which is now in the process of being sold.

“She has voluntarily given up childminding. She did that prior to her first court appearance four weeks ago.” He said she had also made contacts to help deal with her alchohol issues.

Sheriff John Rafferty told Shopp: “There are mitigating and indeed aggravating circumstances in the offence that you have committed.

“It is of significant mitigation that you have pled guilty at the first opportunity along with your lack of record.

“The reading is however close to twice the legal maximum.” He fined Shopp £600 and banned her from driving for 14 months.

Outside court on Tuesday, an emotional Shopp said she did not know why got behind the wheel after drinking.

She said: “I don’t know why I did it and I’ll never know why I did it. I had two glasses of wine at lunchtime.

“I’m so ashamed and disgusted.” She said she has sought treatment for her alcohol use and and her “whole life has changed” since the shocking incident.

The grandmother said the family of the young boys she was child-minding have been supportive of her and her attempt to turn her life around, as have her family and friends.