A Tenby motorist has been given a lengthy driving ban after ‘literally’ bumping into a police officer drunk before getting into her car.
Sixty-two-year-old Mary Denton of St. David’s Close, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to driving her VW Polo after exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol.
Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told the court that a police officer on duty entered the Co-op store at The Green in Tenby shortly after 9 pm, on August 30.
“The officer witnessed the defendant exiting the store. She was a bit unsteady and her eyes looked glazed. She was stumbling when she walked towards her car, which she got in and started up.
“The officer followed her up Heywood Lane in his vehicle and put on the blue flashing lights to try and stop the defendant ahead, but she went into her drive way.
“When spoken to, the officer could smell alcohol on Mrs. Denton’s breath, and she said that she’d had a bottle of wine. After a sample proved positive, a reading of 70 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath was given at the police station.
“What will also concern the court is a similar matter on record from 2010,” added Ms Morgan.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that there was some ‘relevant’ background to the matter.
“Mrs. Denton and her husband moved to Australia for his job, but unfortunately she came back to the area for cancer treatment and also had to nurse her mother until her passing.
“Stress and strain have led to her experiencing spinal problems and arthritis, and on the day of this incident she had taken threes doses of Paracetamol by 2 pm, and also consumed wine as a type of painkiller.
“This offence occurred after 9 pm at night, so she had miscalculated when it was ok to drive. The police officer bumped into her almost literally coming out of the store and followed her home,” he added.
Magistrates disqualified Mrs. Denton from driving for three years and fined her £200 for the offence.
She was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.