A driver who had been on a vodka binge was found to be five times over the limit after she was caught swerving and crawling along a motorway at 40mph. Police were so shocked at the high breath-test reading they posted a picture of it on social media.
Angela Hinton, 55, was stopped in her Mini Cooper on the M58 near her home in Rainford, Merseyside, in the afternoon after an witness spotted her clambering behind the wheel of the vehicle.
Police said the car was seen swerving on lane one of the carriageway at just 40mph in the moments before Hinton was pulled over. Tests showed she had 177 micrograms of alcohol in 100 ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mg.
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Now she has been banned from the roads but has escaped a prison sentence after magistrates heard she had sought help for alcohol abuse. After she was stopped, officers were so shocked at the reading they posted a picture of the alcometer on Twitter saying: ''Thank you to the member of the public who contacted us about a possible drunk driver.
''Vehicle stopped on the M58 and blew a staggering 177 at the roadside. The legal limit is 35. That driver will remain in custody until they are taken to court.”
At Sefton magistrates court, Hinton, of Lakeside Gardens in Rainford, Merseyside, pleaded guilty to drink driving on the basis of a lower reading at the police station which showed she had 157 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The limit is 35mg,
She was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and was banned from driving for three years.
Shannen Carey, prosecuting, said that a report was made to police at 1.30pm on May 18 that a female driving a blue Mini Cooper had left the Park Hotel in Netherton having drunk a large amount of vodka.
"The vehicle was sighted by the arresting officer PC Hutchison, and the vehicle was followed," Miss Carey said, “It was seen swerving on lane one of three on M58 motorway driving at 40mph. Clearly it was dangerous to the public and herself.
"She was stopped by the officer. She said she had not had a drink that day. The officer detected a strong smell of intoxicants in the vehicle and asked the defendant to sit in the rear of the police vehicle where a roadside breath test was completed.
"The reading was 177 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath at the roadside. She was taken into custody where the drink drive procedure was completed. The lowest of the two readings was 157 micrograms in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg/100ml. The defendant has one previous conviction for an unrelated offence."
In mitigation, defence solicitor Georgia Maudsley said: "Undoubtedly, this is a very serious offence and Ms Hinton does recognise that, bearing in mind the quantity of alcohol on her breath, the whereabouts on the road and the manner of driving.
”She held her hands up and complied with the police procedure but she has been struggling with her home life. She went to stay at the Park Hotel to get away from the issues at her family home and was using alcohol to escape her problems.
“She has started to engage with Change Grow Life and they are assisting her. Any period of imprisonment can be suspended. She has complied with police, the courts, and the probation service throughout this procedure.
“She has no relevant previous convictions and has fully accepted responsibility. She also recognises the cause of her offending and as a result she has engaged with Change Grow Live.”
Hinton was also ordered to complete 84 hours of unpaid work and participating with 20 days of Rehabilitative Activities.
Chairman of the bench, Brian Wilson, said: “This is a very serious matter however, we are prepared to suspend this sentence because you have a lack of previous relevant convictions and we feel there's a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. You have already sought help.''
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