A woman caught drink driving has told the courts she only drove off because a strange man approached her car as she was eating while pulled over.
Prosecuting, Peter Conroy told Stockport Magistrates court that the incident took place on July 15 last year just after 11.10pm.
“A police constable on patrol described the defendant as swerving from side to side in the road.
“There was an internal light on in the car. The officer conducted checks in her number plate and used his emergency equipment to stop her,” said Conroy.
“The defendant pulled over and he could smell alcohol on her breath and could tell she was intoxicated. She then failed a roadside breath test and was arrested being taken to Middlewich custody suite.
“She was compliant with police throughout. There were no other passengers in the car and conditions were good, it was late at night.”
James Street, who specialises in “exceptional hardship” cases before the courts, explained it was fear that drove the 27-year-old to drive in the manner she did.
“She had been out for a meal and a drink and then dropped her friend off at their home, where she has had another drink. It is probably that drink which has put her over the legal limit,” he told magistrates.
“She was hungry later on and drove to McDonald’s to get a burger. She then started to drive off and realised it may be difficult to eat a burger whilst driving.
“She parked down the side lane of the pub and noticed someone approaching behind her. She was a single woman in a car and was concerned.
“She felt threatened because a male was behind her, so she took the decision to drive off onto the main road and that is when the police saw her and she pulled into a side road and co-operated.”
He said that at the time of the incident his client had usually worked as a recruitment agent but had branched out into textile design during the lockdown as she was unable to work. A situation that has since continued.
“My client was someone of previous good character and she has now lost that.
“She accepts she will now be disqualified and it will have a significant impact on her in terms of circumstances.
“She is going to be much more limited in her ability now to find work after losing her license because of this,” he added.
After hearing a guilty plea to drink driving, magistrates banned the woman from driving for 18 months and ordered her to pay a fine of £120, £180 in fines, and a £34 victim surcharge.
About Carl Millar
Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
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