A 34-year-old woman from Rainhill has received a suspended prison sentence after crashing her BMW into a garden wall while intoxicated and under the influence of cocaine. Samantha Doherty, a mother of two, admitted to Liverpool Crown Court that she had taken cocaine “to help her concentration” as she attempted to drive home following a night out at bingo with family.
The incident occurred on 11 February as Doherty drove along Sussex Road in Huyton with her sister and two cousins as passengers, all of whom were also intoxicated. According to prosecutor Derek Jones, police noticed her BMW X3 travelling at speeds between 80-90 mph in a 30mph zone and began to follow her vehicle. When Doherty reached a T-junction on Longview Drive, she lost control, crashing into and demolishing a garden wall.
Tests showed Doherty was nearly twice the legal alcohol limit and twice the permissible level for cocaine. The collision completely wrote off her vehicle, though neither Doherty nor her passengers sustained injuries. In court, she expressed remorse and wiped away tears, with her defence lawyer, Matthew Buckland, explaining that she was a stay-at-home mum with no prior convictions and was “thoroughly ashamed” of her actions.
Judge Ian Harris, who presided over the case, noted that Doherty had been given cocaine by her passengers to help her focus on driving—a decision he criticised as “a potentially lethal cocktail.” He also remarked on the irony of the night out, stating, “You were out celebrating your late grandmother’s life, but your actions could have easily ended your own life and the lives of others.”
Doherty was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, she received a three-year driving ban, 120 hours of unpaid community work, and was ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities under probation.
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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