A YOUNG driver who was caught more than double the drink-drive limit while carrying friends in her car has been banned from the roads – and told she could easily have ended up in court on a much more serious charge.

Zoe Ross was stopped on the A82 in Dumbarton on May 29 last year.

Fiscal depute Abigail McKenna told the town’s sheriff court on October 5 that an anonymous driver approached police to inform them that a car was being driven “all over the road”.

The breath sample Ross supplied to police after cops stopped the car had 56 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit in Scotland is 22mg per 100ml.

Defence solicitor Stephen Maguire said: “She recognises she made a very poor choice made that particular evening. She understands and accepts that.”

Sheriff William Gallacher informed Ross that she was on the cusp of going to prison.

He said: “I think that’s dreadful. I am very concerned about these matters. The risk you have posed to other people and yourself is horrific.

“On this occasion you decide, because you’re having fun, you would have other pals in the back of your car and drive off.

“You had no idea what you were doing. The fact you are here only on a drink driving charge, where you might have killed somebody, or yourself, causing an accident, is entirely out of your control.

“I have never really seen such levels of irresponsibility. I think it might be possible to send you to prison, but as an alternative to that you will carry out work for the community.

“Your potential for driving will be greatly impacted by any insurance you get. You will never do this again.”

The sheriff disqualified Ross, of Meadside Avenue, Kilbarchan, for three years and told her to do 150 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.