A SPECIAL police constable found herself in trouble with the law after

a minor accident in an Inverness car park.

Mother of two Elizabeth Taylor, 39, of Woodside Cottage, Aberarder, by

Farr was breathalysed and found to be almost three times the legal

limit.

However, an agent for Taylor, who is also a part-time worker at the

Highland Hospice in Inverness, told Sheriff William Fulton at Inverness

Sheriff Court his client thought she had been drinking a non-alcoholic

punch.

He explained she had gone to a friend's house and consumed the drink

before going to pick up her children from a dance.

However solicitor Niall Ramsay said he was not putting forward special

reasons for no disqualification.

He added: ''She obviously eventually realised that she was drinking

alcohol.''

Mr Ramsay said she would now have to give up her hospice job because

she would not be able to commute from her home.

Taylor, who admitted driving with excess alcohol, was fined #250 and

banned from driving for 15 months.

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said after the case: ''The

circumstances will be reported to the deputy chief constable.

''But special constables do not drive police vehicles as part of their

normal duties.''