A teacher who left a witness fearing for her life after veering towards her while drink driving has avoided going to jail.
Yeovil Magistrates heard that at around 8.45am the 54-year-old teacher was seen on a single-lane track at the wheel of her car, veering from one hedge to the other and heading towards the pedestrian who was walking her dog at the time.
Prosecuting, Emma Lenanton told the court: “She saw a vehicle coming towards her which was being driven erratically and driving into the hedges causing her to feel concerned and she picked her dog up and got as far out of the road as she could,”
“The vehicle stopped, and the female driver appeared to be talking to someone on her phone, so the witness asked [the defendant] if she was ok, but she then slumped into her seat.”
The witness then picked up the phone to find it was the defendant’s husband, whom she told she was going to call the police.
On their arrival, the defendant appeared to be asleep at the wheel of her stationary vehicle. When they woke her she was slurring her words, confirmed that she had been drinking, and failed a roadside breath test.
Following her arrest an evidential sample found her to have 132mcg alcohol per 100ml breath – nearly four times the legal limit for drink driving.
Mitigating, Simon Collingham said his client had argued with her husband the night before. She had been drinking rum and was unaware of the time when she started driving that morning.
“She wants to express her remorse and regret to the court and is utterly ashamed of her behaviour,” he said.
He added that the woman had been working in the education system but had been laid off due to a school restructuring, leading her to use alcohol to cope with anxiety and depression.
Despite getting a new job – which she really enjoyed – she got caught up in the spiral of self-medication.
“This is a woman who is highly regarded,” added Mr Collingham.
District Judge Angela Brereton said: “This was more luck than judgement that something serious did not arise out of this incident and there is evidence of erratic driving and a high reading.
“However your references are glowing, and I accept this was a one-off isolated incident.”
After hearing a guilty plea to drink driving, Judge Brereton sentenced the woman to 10 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months, and complete 120 hours of unpaid work with a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement. She was also banned from the roads for 32 months and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 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.
