A teenage girl who ploughed her car into a fence after leaving a pub tried to swap seats with her passenger in a bid to dodge the blame, a court heard.
Molly Pickering, from Stalybridge, had been drinking with friends in a local pub on the evening of January 21 this year. The 18-year-old had driven there with the intention of leaving her car, the court heard.
But she 'made the poor decision to drive' following 'peer pressure' from friends and smashed her Ford Fiesta into a fence on the way home. Paramedics who were called to the scene of the incident - which happened at around 2am - spotted her switching seats with her female passenger.
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Pickering was taken into police custody and asked to provide a breath sample after being identified as the driver. The apprentice painter and decorator refused, questioning why she would need to.
At Tameside Magistrates' Court, Gareth Hughes, prosecuting, said: "It was around 2am on January 21 and police officers on patrol came across an ambulance stationary with its emergency equipment activated. They stopped and checked the situation and were told by the paramedics that they had seen the vehicle collide with a metal fence.
"After speaking to the two females present in the vehicle, the paramedics told them they had seen the females switch seats after they arrived. At that point both females were arrested."
He added: "Miss Pickering was in the passenger seat when police arrived but there was the information that they had switched seats. They arrested her on suspicion of driving a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs.
"At the police station the breath testing procedure commenced but the defendant failed to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. She was warned that if she failed to do so she was at risk of prosecution but she still did not provide.
"She was given ample opportunity but she was questioning the reasons for giving a sample. Ultimately it was a wilful refusal.
"The procedure was explained to her more than once but she does not provide a sample. It was a deliberate or wilful refusal."
A probation report compiled about Pickering read: "On the evening of the offence she had driven to the public house with the intention of leaving the car there and picking it up the following morning. Unfortunately, due to the level of alcohol consumed she made the poor decision to drive.
"It was partly a poor decision, there was also some peer pressure from people she was drinking with who were much older than her. But she appreciates that it was her decision to drive.
"Her intention was to drop the passenger off and drive herself home. Within ten minutes of driving she oversteered a corner and this is when she hit the metal fence.
"When she went to the police station she did refuse. She said she was drunk and acted stupidly, on reflection due to being drunk.
"She has regret for all of her actions. This is her first offence on record and she is in the process of selling her car.
"She is aware that she could have collided with another road user or a pedestrian and caused serious injury if not death. She wishes she had stayed at home or called for a friend or her parents to pick her up.
"She has not had any contact with the social group. She feels that they have different views.
"She wants to concentrate on her apprenticeship. She is working for a painting and decorating company and she has been with them for two years.
"They are aware of the offence. They have put plans in place where she can get a lift to work.
"They do feel that she has a future career with them. She is a single woman with no children and she is fully supported by her family.
"Her lifestyle consists of working. She wants to concentrate on her future. Working is her priority at the moment.
"Usually she does not drink to this excess and she does not see alcohol as a problem. She does say that she has had issues with her mental health.
"She feels it is now time to sort her life out. She does not want to go out getting drunk and behaving in this manner.
"She is a low risk of reoffending, and low risk of serious reoffending. The aggravating factors are that she was carrying a passenger, and did have an accident.
"However, she does not have any previous convictions. She regrets her actions and she is of the age where immaturity may have been a factor."
Defending, David Caplin said: "It appears she is a conscientious and hardworking individual. She has done two years on her apprenticeship and she has one year to go.
"She is looking forward to qualifying in that profession. She has been candid with her employer, which is a very refreshing thing to hear.
"She is of good character. There are no previous convictions.
"She is certainly remorseful, as seen clearly in the conversation with the probation service. She has dropped those friends and associates she thinks could lead her down the wrong path.
"I understand very little damage was done and there were no injuries. She bumped into some street furniture.
"I do not think there was any claim of damage. Ironically, the passenger was far older than her, the defendant is only 18.
"She was one of the group who encouraged her to drive. It is pretty clear on any analysis, that my client is not going to darken the door of the court again."
Pickering, Swineshaw Road, admitted failing to provide a breath specimen. She was banned from driving for 20 months.
She was also ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work, which will involve her volunteering in a charity shop, and pay £199 in costs. She was given the opportunity to reduce her road ban by a quarter if she completes a drink drive awareness course.
JP Dennis Hilton said: "We recognise that you are 18 and liable to make rash decisions. It does not excuse anything but we do note it.
"A charity shop is a pleasant environment so it could be a lot worse. Hopefully, we won’t be seeing you again."
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