Shocking moment boozy Scots wife crashes husband's Ferrari after downing prosecco as she's filmed staggering out of car

Scottish Sun

7 days ago

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THIS is the moment a boozed-up Scots woman crashes her husband's Ferrari after downing prosecco with friends.
Claire Taddei, 47, has today admitted crashing the sports car, worth up to £209,000, while driving her friend home while drunk.
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Claire Taddei ploughed the flash sports car into another motor
Credit: Supplied/The Scottish Sun
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The 47-year-old was more than twice over the drink drive limit
Credit: Supplied/The Scottish Sun
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Cops were alerted around midnight when Taddei smashed the top-of-the-range vehicle
Credit: Supplied/The Scottish Sun
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Claire Taddei was driving her husband Dom's car at the time of the incident
Credit: Andrew Barr
The mortgage firm boss, from Melrose, ploughed the flash car into another motor after boozing with pals and while more than twice over the drink drive limit.
The smash occurred on Market Square in the centre of Melrose, Roxburghshire, on February 23, 2025.
Cops were alerted around midnight when Taddei, a chief financial officer, smashed the top-of-the-range Ferrari 458 Spider.
She failed a roadside breath test and was arrested and charged, before being taken to hospital with a suspected concussion.
A urine test later showed that it contained 138 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitre of urine, over twice the legal amount of 67 milligrams of booze.
Today, she pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to driving while over the limit.
The court heard that the mother-of-four had walked to a friend's house with another pal to celebrate their new job.
Arriving at the property around 8pm, Taddei's lawyer, Laurelle Johnstone, told the court that her client "shared two bottles of prosecco and her other friend had a bottle of wine."
She added that Taddei "thinks she may have had a glass of wine on top of the prosecco".
Ms Johnstone said: "The friend she walked there with became intoxicated and they left around 10.30pm to walk home. She [Taddei] knew she [her friend] was intoxicated but didn't realise how intoxicated she had become.
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"Her friend began to fall over after around 10 minutes. By that time, it was wet and dark and they had two dogs with them.
"Ms Taddei was taking the lead and trying to support her friend. She was concerned about them walking over a pedestrian bridge over the river and then her friend fell again.
"At that time, Ms Taddei panicked. She tried to call her mum and dad but they had also been drinking but offered to let her friend stay the night. When she tried to get her friend up to do that, she wasn't cooperative.
"Her friend had a son and was anxious to get home."
Ms Johnstone told the court that Taddei had called and messaged her parents and another friend between 10.44pm and 11.22pm.
She said: "No one was able to assist and she got herself in a state of panic. She ran home with the dogs to get her car.
"She said she put her friend in the recovery position on the grass and drove her husband's car.
"She had driven it only once. It's a Ferrari and is particularly responsive.
"Her husband had left it in sports mode. She drove back and only got one mile down the road before colliding with another vehicle.
"She was in a state of panic. She was not thinking rationally and deeply regrets it.
"When the car stopped, she became aware of six or seven people who came out of a pub. They were hurling abuse at her and she felt vulnerable.
"She has been open and honest about the events. She attended the GP on the Monday morning and was diagnosed with whiplash.
"She also suffered several panic attacks. This is a decision that is extremely out of character and she will suffer the consequences for a significant period of time."
Ms Johnstone told the court that Taddei, from Melrose, has not driven since the crash.
But the brief said that her client has an adult son with autism and her driving ban hampers the care she offers him during the week in Edinburgh.
Ms Johnstone added that Taddei is a "woman who's never been in trouble with the police before" and handed a letter to Sheriff Sinclair that her client had written.
She also told the court that, due to being intoxicated, her client's insurer wouldn't cover the damage to both vehicles.
Ms Johnstone said she had already shelled out £50,000 for repairs to the Ferrari.
Sentencing Taddei, Sheriff Sinclair ordered her to pay a fine of £900, down from £1,200.
He also told her that her driving ban would be reduced from 12 months to 9 months if she completes a drink driving course.
Taddei is co-founder of Mortgage Advice Bureau's network partner in Scotland.
She has run the business as chief financial officer alongside her husband for around 20 years.