Woman who let child drive car in Crimond must do unpaid work

A woman who allowed a girl aged under 10 to drive a car through an Aberdeenshire village has been given a community payback order.

Sophie-Leigh Gemmell, 32, previously admitted culpable and reckless conduct after footage emerged of the incident in Crimond.

The young girl drove the car barefoot and in bad weather on 10 July last year.

At Peterhead Sheriff Court, Gemmell was ordered to carry out 134 hours of unpaid work in the community, reduced from 200 hours due to her plea.

A video of the incident – which lasted about a minute – was seen on social media.

It showed the child driving in the dark, using the wipers and indicators, and peering over the steering wheel.

The child has bare feet and music is playing, including by Sugababes in one section.

Gemmell, from Crimond, could be heard cheering during the video.

Last month Gemmell admitted culpable and reckless conduct with utter disregard for the consequences by allowing a child to drive a motor vehicle on a public road in poor weather and barefoot to the danger of others – in particular to the child.

Sheriff Annella Cowan had previously deferred sentence to obtain a criminal justice social work report.

Sentencing Gemmell, Sheriff Alan Sinclair described her actions as “reckless in the extreme”.

He added that she was very fortunate not to have suffered more serious consequences.

She was told she must complete her unpaid work within 12 months.