A woman suffering from auditory hallucinations has appeared at Manchester’s Minshull Streat Crown Court charged with drink driving.
The woman crashed her car with her six-year-old son in the back and lashed out at police while trying to flee the scene.
Judge Paul Lawton accepted, on the evidence of an experienced psychologist, that the woman had been suffering a psychotic episode at the time of the accident, however, he said that she still made the conscious decision to drive.
“You could have fled on foot, you could have fled in a taxi and even, given the time of year, you could have caught public transport,” he told the court.
He added that “an accident was inevitable”, as well as highlighting the risk posed to other road users.
“You tried to flee the scene and while you were being apprehended you lashed out and struck a female police officer in the face, hence your conviction for assaulting an emergency worker,” he said.
“I was concerned when this case first appeared before the court that the explanation you were giving was that you were suffering from a psychotic episode.”
Nonetheless, Judge Lawton accepted the evidence presented and, accounting for the fact that she was a single mother-of-two, kept the driving ban to the minimum he could.
The 36-year-old woman pleaded guilty to drink driving and assaulting an emergency worker.
Judge Lawton handed her a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, as we all a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement. The order also specified that she must undergo substance abuse counselling.
She was also banned from driving for 15 months.
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.
Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535, or click here to send a confidential message.
