ScotRail Train Driver Four Times Over Alcohol Limit Before Shift

An Ayrshire train driver was found to be more than four times the legal alcohol limit just minutes before she was due to start a shift with ScotRail, a court has heard.

Leigh McClafferty was stopped by police while driving to work on November 10 and later admitted being over the limit and uninsured. The 46-year-old was found to have 84 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath at Station Road in Ayr. The legal limit in Scotland is 22 micrograms.

McClafferty, of Walnut Grove, Stewarton, pleaded guilty to both offences when she appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court on Tuesday, December 9. She was disqualified from driving for 40 months, reduced from 60 months because of her guilty plea, and her licence was endorsed.

As an alternative to custody, the court imposed an 18-month community payback order with supervision. ScotRail declined to comment on the case.

The court heard that police officers on mobile patrol stopped McClafferty’s vehicle and quickly became concerned. The Procurator Fiscal depute said:

“Police were on mobile uniformed patrol and observed a car driving at the locus and carried out a check. The accused was wearing a ScotRail uniform, smelled of alcohol and was observed to be fidgety. She said she was a train driver, and due to be driving in 20 minutes. Section 6 breath procedure was carried out which confirmed a positive result. She was thereafter arrested and taken to Kilmarnock Police Station.”

Defence solicitor Quentin Muir told the court the conviction had already had serious consequences for his client. He said:

“This is a serious conviction causing her problems - she is now unemployed. Her partner also has become fed up with her behaviour. You will read detail in the report, she struggles with alcohol and accepts she has become alcohol dependent. She has taken practical action.”

Passing sentence, Sheriff Mhari MacTaggart warned McClafferty about the seriousness of her behaviour. She said:

“You are going to have to get your problems addressed, but you are also going to lose your licence.”

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