A WOMAN who almost caused a head on collision was caught driving more than three times over the legal drink drive limit, a court has heard.
Olivia Fairhurst, of Newlands, Pershore, was handed a 12-month community order and a disqualification from driving for 24-months after she blew 113 micro-grammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath, any reading over 116 is considered for a prison sentence.
The 63-year-old was driving a Peugeot 206 on Defford Road, about 5pm on May 4, when police were called to say she nearly caused
the collision and her driving was very poor, Worcester Magistrates Court heard last Friday (May 30).
Officers received a second call to say the car had been abandoned in a nearby car park and the driver was seen to stagger down the road, the court also heard.
When police attended the address of Fairhurst they arrived to see her in the kitchen but she would not answer the door and was unsteady on her feet.
She was taken to Worcester Police Station and fully admitted the crime in interview.
As part of her community order Fairhurst was made subject to 12-months supervision and the drink impaired drivers programme.
Fiona Warman, defending solicitor, said: “She’s done what she always warned her children not to do and has been absolutely distraught by this.
“She was taken to Worcester Police Station on the Sunday and spent the night in custody, so that was a very traumatic experience for her.
“She just made a very, very silly mistake and is genuinely remorseful.”
District Judge Nigel Cadbury added: “It is always a serious matter to drive a motor vehicle with excess alcohol in your system.
“It was a very high reading, you were more than three times over the legal limit and it was only three years ago that someone three
times over the limit would go to prison.”
Fairhurst was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge.
