baxters soup - Telegraph Ms Baxter had no intention of driving on Christmas Eve when her partner suddenly became violently ill. It was confirmed later that he needed immediate hospital treatment. Having unsuccessfully tried a number of options to transfer her partner to hospital she wrongly, while in a state of panic, decided to drive him directly to hospital for treatment. On her return home the police subsequently came to her house and questioned Ms Baxter on suspicion of having drunk alcohol prior to driving. She has since that moment cooperated fully with the police and admitted her guilt. Depute fiscal Shona Duncan told the court that at 9pm on Christmas Eve, a vehicle was recorded driving into the ambulance bay area at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin. Ms Duncan said Baxter (50) got out of the driver's seat and assisted her partner into the accident and emergency ward. Ms Duncan said there was a number of witnesses on scene, with one of the people who spoke to Baxter detected the smell of alcohol on her breath. Another witness, according to Ms Duncan, said she was "clearly" under the influence of alcohol. Around 45 minutes later, Baxter received a complaint from hospital staff that the Range Rover she had been driving was blocking the ambulance bay. She was spoken to by staff, and moved the vehicle. With her partner's departure from the hospital imminent, Ms Duncan said a member of staff expressed concern that Baxter would drive again and so she contacted police. Baxter then got back into the driver's seat of the Range Rover with her partner and left the hospital grounds, turning right onto West Road. Having been called, Ms Duncan said police attended Baxter's home at Dunkinty, Linkwood, at around 10.05pm. She said officers spotted the Range Rover, and were granted permission to come through the electronic gate and then into the house. Ms Duncan said Baxter told officers that she knew she should not have driven, but because her partner was sick, she felt she had to drive him to hospital. Baxter failed a Breathalyser test at 10.20pm. She was taken to Elgin Police Station, and at 11.16pm, was formally tested. At that point, Ms Duncan said was found to have 58 micrograms of alcohol on her breath, when the legal limit is 35. Baxter's solicitor, Diane Turner, said Baxter had been attending a Christmas Eve party with her daughter while her partner was at home. Ms Turner said Baxter drank one small glass of wine, before returning home and finding her partner asleep in bed. Ms Turner said Baxter began preparing the Christmas dinner, during which she drank two large glasses of wine. She then went to check on her partner, and found him "very, very ill indeed." Ms Turner said Baxter attempted to book a taxi to the hospital but was unable to do so. Ms Turner said Baxter was "extremely concerned" about her partner's health and "panicked," taking the decision to drive. According to Ms Turner, Baxter's partner was diagnosed as suffering from gastroenteritis and dehydration. She said Baxter's one-year driving ban will create a "considerable inconvenience" for her. The court appearance came during the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Festive Drink Drug Drive Campaign. Police said 13 people were detected in the Grampian area in the last seven days of the four-week crackdown - 12 for drink driving and one for driving under the influence of alcohol. Across Scotland, a total of 141 people were detected during the campaigns last week. Overall figures are up, with 525 people caught across Scotland compared to 452 last year. In Moray, a banned and uninsured driver allegedly crashed with a young child in the back of the car while nearly twice the drink drive limit. Police said the 22-year-old man unlawfully took a car in Elgin on December 19, drove a short distance and crashed, slightly injuring the child. Chief Superintendent Kate Thomson, ACPOS lead on drink driving, described the figures as "deeply concerning."