Scrabster woman caught speeding at 90mph with child in the car is told at Wick Sheriff Court her conduct was "madness"

A single mother escaped a driving ban after admitting speeding at Bilbster.

A sheriff described a mother's actions in speeding at 90mph accompanied by one of her children in a booster seat, as "madness".

However, Sheriff Andrew Berry took a sympathetic view of single mother-of-three Jacqueline Elder's circumstances and decided not to disqualify her from driving.

Elder (32) was fined £200 and also incurred four penalty points after she pleaded guilty.

She was clocked driving at 90mph by police on a straight stretch of the A882 at Bilbster on June 18, where the speed limit is 60mph.

Sheriff Berry told her at Wick Sheriff Court: "It is not the best way to look after your kids, having a five-year-old in a booster seat in a car you are driving at 90mph – it is madness."

Elder replied: "I know".

Her solicitor, Fiona MacDonald, told the court: "My client has not been in court before and has no intention of appearing here again."

The sheriff said that Elder, of Nel's Cottage, Scrabster, had a lot on her hands as a single mother with three children and added: "I get a distinct impression that you would rather be anywhere else than here at the moment."

Sheriff Berry noted that Elder's licence was important to her to enable her to transport her children.

He also said that she had accepted responsibility for the offence and had limited income so he would restrict the fine.