A 25-year-old junior doctor has been spared jail, despite being caught drink-driving twice in as many months.
In October last year, shortly after her graduation, Dr Lauren Fowler crashed her car after drinking with friends in Manchester. While on bail for that offence, she crashed once more in a hotel carpark after consuming half a bottle of vodka.
Stockport Magistrates heard that Fowler had started drinking as a student at Imperial College London as it helped her “cope with the stress” of her medical studies.
Regarding the first incident Joseph O’Connor, prosecuting, said: “Police attended a minor road traffic collision and met the defendant who was clearly intoxicated”.
“She was swearing and slurring her words and they could smell intoxicants on her breath.
“When they tried to speak to her they had trouble understanding what she was saying, she was incoherent and the officers assumed she was drunk. As she was arrested she admitted that she had drunk two bottles of wine and was taken to the police station. She was described as acting very emotionally and she failed to provide a specimen of breath because she was so upset.”
Less than two months later she was stopped by police once again. Mr O’Connor explained: “She collided with another car whilst trying to leave the car park of the Stanneylands Hotel.
“When the police arrived they tried to speak to her, but they noticed a smell of intoxicants on her breath and she was slurring her words.
“She was taken to the police station and gave two samples of breath. In interview, she made admissions and told them she had drunk half a bottle of vodka before deciding to go to the gym.”
On hearing that her offences “crossed the custody threshold”, Fowler broke down and wept in the dock. Magistrates, however, opted to suspend her sentence having heard that she had completely given up drinking.
Acting on behalf of Fowler, Helen Turner told the court how her client was now facing a disciplinary hearing with the General Medical Council.
“She has an addictive behaviour, she admits this. She has a very stressful lifestyle,” said Ms Turner.
“It is insurmountable the amount of work she does. She works 48 hours during the week, and she works overtime and also volunteers at the weekend. You can’t deny the dedication she has for her career. She has already made steps to making sure this never happens again. She has given up alcohol completely. She has removed all temptation to ever get behind the wheel by selling her car.
“She has been seeing an addiction counsellor every week. She has shown an incredible amount of remorse for her actions. Her character references indicate that this isn’t the kind of thing you would expect from her.
“She reported herself to the GMC. She has been completely transparent with her employer and the GMC and she knows this will massively impact her career. She has made a hill for herself to climb and I can only ask that you don’t make this a mountain, as she has already punished herself enough.”
JP Martin Drake told her: “We have considered all the facts of this case and there are aggravating features; the first offence was committed during the day when there were pedestrians around and the second offence was committed on bail and it was a very high reading. This does cross the custody threshold but the sentence will be suspended and this means you will not be going to prison today.
“However, if you commit any offence during the next 12 months, another judge has the right to activate that sentence and can send you to custody.”
Fowler pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failing to provide a breath specimen. Magistrates sentenced her to eight weeks in jail, suspended for a year, as well as complete 40 hours unpaid work, banned from driving for three years, and ordered to pay £200 costs.
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.
