A 32-year-old woman from Manchester has appeared before magistrates after police caught her drink driving erratically on her way home from a colleague’s leaving party.
The incident took place at around 9.30pm on December 23, 2021, as the woman drove through a village near Knutsford, Cheshire. Prosecuting, Gareth Hughes told Stockport Magistrates Court: “Police officers were behind a car which was being driven too slowly for the appropriate speed limit. They reported the car was swerving over the road and crossing over the central lane markings and into the hatched areas.
“The officers described the state of her driving as ‘extremely poor.’ The officers pulled her over and formed the view that she was under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested and taken to a police station.”
Subsequent analysis found the woman to have 80mcg alcohol per 100ml breath. The legal limit for drink driving is 35mcg.
The court also heard that the defendant had a previous conviction for drink driving dating back to her university career in 2012 when she received a 20-month ban.
The cosmetic brand executive’s solicitor, Lisa Morton, said in mitigation: “She was driving overly slowly for the road speed limit which is why officers became suspicious. She pulled into a residential road, there was no collision and no one in the car. The officers describing her driving as ‘extremely poor’ is not particularly charitable and not particularly fair.
“It was the last working day before Christmas and one of her colleagues was finishing on that day. There was no planned event after work that day but during the course of the afternoon, it was suggested that they would go out after work.
“If she had intended to go out it would have been planned by using taxis. She felt she was put under pressure to attend this event for the person leaving but she did go on with it and she has made a wrong decision which she now regrets.
Speaking on her own behalf, the defendant admitted her guilt and offered her remorse for appearing before the court: “I do feel really bad about this whole situation. It was the opposite to how I try to live my life every day. I got swept up in the moment and did something I should not have done.
“I am ashamed and embarrassed and feel awful. I have worked really hard and I do not want people to think this is who I am as a person. I want to express how emotionally sorry I am for what I have done and for inconveniencing the court today.”
After pleading guilty to drink driving, magistrates banned her from driving for three years as well as imposing a fine of £576 and ordering her to pay £143 in costs.
JP Margaret Elvidge told her: “We have heard and taken into consideration everything that has been said today.
“This is your second offence, albeit the first is some time ago. But we have listened to you about this being out of character and how you feel upset yourself. You must not drive from now. You are disqualified straight away. If you do drive, it is an extremely serious offence.”
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.
