Mental health services failed drink driver, court hears

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes has criticised the Island’s mental health services after a woman waited a year for an appointment.

This week, Gillian Helen Mcgowan of Westhill Avenue in Castletown admitted drink driving when she appeared at Douglas Courthouse.

The court heard the 50 year old was having a life crisis when she drove to Scarlett Road and rang the emergency services to tell them she was considering taking her own life.

They later visited her at home to make sure she was safe, when she told them she’d drunk cans of lager before getting behind the wheel.

Her advocate told the court she’d been depressed about a cancer diagnosis  but had been waiting 12 months to see someone about her mental health.

Mrs Hughes put her on probation for a year, banned her from the roads for 24 months and ordered her to pay £125 costs.

Noting she’d been offered help by the probation service, she told Mcgowan it wasn’t right the organisation had to provide support which should come from the health service.