Michelle Burgess made the decision to evade two drunk men by driving her silver Land Rover Discover vehicle away from a camping site after her tent had blown away, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.
The 33-year-old attracted the attention of officers shortly after at 2:20am on September 13 this year at Clappersgate in Ambleside by driving towards police with her full-beam activated, prosecutor Lee Dacre said.
“Officers followed the vehicle and witnessed the driver responding late to bends and failing to keep within marked lines,” Mr Dacre said.
“The driver was told to provide a specimen for analysis at the roadside but refused. She locked her vehicle and refused to engage.
“As a result, she was arrested and taken to the police station.”
The court heard Burgess, of Broadleaf Drive, Formby, provided two evidential samples at the station, the lowest reading of which was 46 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 35.
She pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to driving with alcohol above the legal limit.
Defence solicitor Karen Templeton said: “She was driving somewhere else because she did not feel safe.
“When she saw the police, her car was on full beam. She then turned all of her lights off. She is very sorry about what has happened.
“She has diabetes. The disqualification is going to be difficult for her and her children.”
Ms Templeton read into the court record a letter Burgess had written magistrates.
In the letter, the defendant wrote: “I fully recognise the gravity of what I’ve done.
“It was an unacceptable error of judgement. I’m sorry I put the lives of others at risk. I take full responsibility for my foolish actions. I’m committed to making sure this never happens again.”
“I’m a single mum with three children.”
Magistrates fined Burgess £80 and disqualified her from driving for the mandatory minimum 12 months.
She was also offered the opportunity to complete a drink driving rehabilitation course to reduce the ban by a further 12 weeks.
Court costs of £85 and a £32 victim surcharge was also sought.
Courtesy of The Westmorland Gazette | North Lancs