CONCERNED neighbours have spoken out in defence of a Drumry pensioner of “impeccable” character who was fined for serious driving offences at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

Pals say vulnerable Marion Chapman, 88, is too frail and confused to speak out for herself and has no known next of kin since her sister died recently.

As reported in the Post, the Drumry resident was convicted of dangerous driving on January 22 after being caught speeding at nearly 80mph in a 50mph zone. Her licence had also expired a month earlier. A sheriff fined her £400 and banned her from driving again.

Further, neighbours have hit out after the elderly lady crashed her car just 11 days after being caught driving dangerously, and questioned why her vehicle was not seized by authorities to prevent her getting behind the wheel. 

In the accident on Dumbarton Road on February 2, she and her 93-year-old sister were seriously injured after she drove into a bollard. Her sister died a month later.

Worried Lynette Green, 64, told the Post: “This is the case of a vulnerable woman who is confused and suffering from memory loss in her old age. 

“She has devoted her life to the church and to helping people, and if she understood what was going on she would be horrified. 

“I think everyone shares a duty of care, that we should have done more to stop her driving, but I am surprised the police were unable to seize her vehicle when she was stopped on January 22.”

Police were unable to seize her vehicle due to only finding out in a later report from the DVLA her licence had expired a month earlier.

But a Clydebank police spokesman said traffic cops immediately filed information to the DVLA that she was likely unfit on medical grounds to drive after the initial incident.

The force spokesman said: “Very often, older drivers will hold off

surrendering their licence, because for many it is their only source of independence. 

“This appears to be the case here, and no-one has reported Mrs Chapman’s unfit driving to the DVLA. If someone has concerns about a driver, they need to let us know.

“As soon as we found out, after the incident on January 22, we followed the due process and informed the DVLA.”

Retired Christian missionary Marion Chapman was described as someone of “impeccable character” by her solicitor in court, who branded the fact she was being hauled through the justice system a “farce”.

Recently, her health declined and she is now cared for daily by several carers.

The Clydebank Post spoke briefly with one of her carers, who said she was so

confused she likely doesn’t remember the church she has been going to for decades.

Ms Green continued: “Marion has been treated as a criminal, as opposed to an elderly lady who is suffering from memory loss and confusion.

“We want to speak out because people in the community are angry about her being portrayed in the press as some sort of criminal. We need to let people know she is an upstanding woman, who is suffering from the affects of old age, is confused and should have been given help by authorities instead of dragged through court.”

Neighbour at Duncombe View, James Harris, 72, has known Mrs Chapman for more than 20 years.

He told the Post: “Marion is a lovely woman, I’m shocked at the way she has been treated, and how no-one was able to stop her from driving.”