A former BBC Breakfast executive has been banned from driving for two years after drink driving nearly three times over the limit.
Jessica Shiddell failed a breathalyser test after the Renault Captur she was driving rolled onto its side after she crashed into a parked car on August 20 last year. 41-year-old Shiddell was on her way to help an ex-boyfriend.
Further tests showed that Shiddell, who worked as an assistant editor with BBC Breakfast when anchorman Bill Turnbull was presenting, had 215 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of her blood. The legal limit in England is 80mg.
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A hearing at Manchester Magistrates Court last Friday (March 4) heard Shiddell, of Manley Road, Chorlton, admitted drink driving and was banned from driving for two years and handed a community order. She has been made redundant by the BBC, the court also heard.
Prosecutor Gareth Hughes said: “The police were alerted to a road traffic accident shortly before midnight on 20th August 2021. Officers attended the scene and by then the ambulance and fire service were present.
''The Renault Captur involved in the collision had been driven by the defendant when it collided with a parked car which had rolled over onto its side and roof. Officers spoke with the defendant, and they could smell alcohol on her breath and other signs of intoxication.
''She conducted a breath test at the roadside, and it came back positive. There was significant damage caused. Due to potential injuries, the defendant was taken to hospital.
"She was de-arrested and gave blood at the hospital. The lowest reading was 215 milligrams in blood. She has no previous convictions or cautions.”
In mitigation defence lawyer Judith Hawkins said: “This is a case which is wholly out of character. She is 41 and has not been in trouble before.
"She wishes to express her remorse through me for this incident and she says it will never happen again. It is of some age and there has been no repeat.
“On the night in question, she had been drinking but she was then contacted by a previous partner who was in some distress and who had asked her very forcibly to come around to assist him at his home address.
''He lived not a great distance away from her. She was extremely concerned for his health and well-being and from her point of view, it was an emergency situation.
''She does not say there were any special reasons for her driving, but she was put under pressure from another person. She should have resisted that pressure and she should have called for a taxi or called for assistance for that person.
“She has little recollection of the incident. This is a lady that has had a terrible wake-up call. She is very sorry indeed. She knows she may have potentially put others at danger, and she is extremely ashamed by her own behaviour.
''She has not touched alcohol since not long after that incident. She did not have any intention to drive whatsoever. She had gone out to try to help her friend on the spur of the moment after being put on the spot, but she makes no excuses.
''It is her fault entirely. She had her house clothes and garments on typical of the kind you would wear if you were spending the evening at your home address on your own. It was an extremely isolated incident.
''She has not seen or spoken to the person concerned since that incident. She is not going to come before the courts again. There was no injury to her, she was checked over at the hospital.
“She has had an impeccable driving record. She is not now driving because she is so shocked about what has happened. She has debts and has no income at the moment, but she has a redundancy payment. You will have read about the difficulties she has had and the responsibilities and has had on her shoulders from a very young age. She will never be before the courts again.”
Sentencing, Deputy District Judge Oliver Jones told Shiddell: “I know you truly regret what has happened. It is out of character and a one-off matter for you.
''It is a serious matter because it is a high reading, and it is aggravated further because there was an accident with damage. I have taken into account that you have no previous convictions. It is not going to be custody.”
Shiddell was also fined £100 and ordered to pay 170 pounds in costs and surcharges.
