Kelly Ann Haldane appeared at the dock of Glasgow Sheriff Court last week after she pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, while using a mobile phone and without insurance.
She was spotted by police on Hope Street in the city centre during the Glasgow Men’s 10k on the morning of June 16, 2024.
Haldane was driving in lane two in a BMW and using a smartphone.
The Hamiltonhill resident breached the 20mph speed limit, so officers started to follow her.
In front of her, the lights turned red, cars were waiting in line and buses were using lane one.
Haldane mounted the pavement outside the Theatre Royal and struck a bin, which damaged her car.
Then, crossed the pavement and rejoined the road on Cowcaddens Street, where there were incoming vehicles with the right of way.
She drove onto Port Dundas Street, then Milton Street, Dobbie’s Loan and Craighall Road.
As she went under the M8, cops lost sight of her.
But she was tracked down later at home and arrested.
Driver mounted pavement to pass traffic during Glasgow Men’s 10k (Image: Glasgow Sheriff Court)
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Sheriff Patricia Pryce was told the 45-year-old mother committed the offence to get past the traffic jam.
The court also heard that it wasn’t noted whether there were any pedestrians at the section of pavement she drove onto.
Haldane’s lawyer said: “When the police came to her house, she made a full admission.
“She said: ‘I cannot believe I did that, I should have stopped. I don’t know what came over me, it’s absolutely my fault’.”
He went on to explain that the car belonged to her partner and someone was sent to retrieve it from the city centre but that person was intoxicated.
The solicitor added: “She stupidly decided that she would drive.
“She is very lucky that there were no other circumstances. Her record is poor but there are no outstanding cases.”
He also said that as she started driving, Haldane got a phone call from her 21-year-old son, who has disabilities.
Sheriff Pryce observed: “The Glasgow Men’s 10k was going on. There must have been so many families there, watching their dads running.
“It’s a pure miracle that nobody got injured.”
Haldane was sentenced to a year of supervision and tagged for nine weeks, forcing her to stay at home between 7pm and 7am each day.
She will also have to complete 210 hours of unpaid work within a year.
For using her phone at the wheel, she was fined £300 and her license was endorsed.
For the dangerous driving, she was disqualified from driving for three years and her license was endorsed.
For driving without insurance, she was disqualified for 24 months.