A motorist who parked her car obstructing a street in Tenby was later arrested for drink driving after police informed her she was required to move the vehicle or risk being towed away, a court heard this week.

Thirty-five-year-old Laura Perry, of Bishop Hannon Drive, Fairwater in Cardiff, pleaded guilty to driving her Nissan Qashqai, after exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol, when she appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Dennis Davies told the court that police officers were attempting to head up Upper Frog Street in their vehicle on April 8 at 12.40 am, when they came across the defendant’s parked car blocking the right hand side pavement.

“The local taxi drivers made their feelings known to the officers about the parked car. Twenty minutes later when the driver was in her vehicle officers knocked on the window to speak to her to explain that she was causing an obstruction but she drove off and left the scene,” explained Mr. Davies.

Officers carried out a check on the vehicle and it was seen later coming out of Rowston Holiday Park in New Hedges where Miss Perry was stopped and gave a positive roadside sample, before being arrested.

She gave a reading of 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 milliitres of breath at the police station.

Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that his client had parked her vehicle behind other vehicles on the street and therefore didn’t think that she would cause an obstruction.

Mr. Kellher said that Miss Perry claims that she received a text message from a police officer shortly after 1 am pointing out that where her car was parked was causing an obstruction, and could hinder a fire engine or ambulance getting through, and was therefore liable to be towed away.

“She is a stranger to the county and out of panic went to the vehicle and drove off as she had been asked to do.

“She accepts that she should not have been driving but there was some degree of compliance, as she had been asked to move her vehicle by the police,” added Mr. Kelleher.

Magistrates disqualified Miss Perry from driving for a period of 12 months and fined her £100 for the offence.

She was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.