'Reckless' woman, 32, who let girl under 10 DRIVE car through village is ordered to do community service
Sophie-Leigh Gemmell, 32, previously admitted culpable and reckless conduct after allowing the girl, who was under 10 at the time, to take to the wheel in July last year.
Video footage posted on social media app Snapchat showed the child driving in the dark through Crimond, Aberdeenshire.
She could be seen peering over the steeling wheel as music plays and Gemmell mother cheers.
At Peterhead Sheriff Court on Monday, Gemmell was given a 134-hour community payback order - reduced from 200 due to her plea.
Sheriff Alan Sinclair said said her actions were 'reckless in the extreme'.
But he said a custodial sentence would have been 'disproportionate'. The court heard she had no previous criminal record.
In Scotland, a child can apply for a provisional driving licence at 15 years and 9 months old, but they cannot drive a car on public roads until they are 17.
Children must use a car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall (4ft 4in), whichever comes first.
Sheriff Sinclair told Gemmell that she and the girl were 'very fortunate' not to have suffered more serious consequences and added that allowing a child to operate machinery could have caused injury to both the occupants of the car and the wider public.
He added that filming the incident 'defies any reasonable explanation'.
Gemmell's defence agent said the 32-year-old had difficult family circumstances and was the victim of domestic abuse.
He said her behaviour was an attempt at 'levity' during a 'dire' time for the family.
The defence agent said Gemmell admitted her 'behaviour was completely foolish' and a result of 'poor decision-making'.
He said she wished to apologise to the court and showed 'genuine remorse' for her actions and an 'acceptance' that 'the behaviour was wrong and a willingness to accept that'.
He added that a social work report found she was 'of no risk of further offending' and 'does not need supervision'.
The defence said Gemmell 'appreciates and understands this is a serious matter' that 'could have had serious consequences' and that she recognised she deserves to be punished for her actions.
Gemmell must complete her unpaid work within 12 months.
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