A talented student was more than three times above the alcohol limit when police caught her behind the wheel near an M4 service station. Emily Huntley's speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet after an officer stopped her car close to Cardiff West services.
The 24-year-old, of The Retreat in Sarn, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Prosecutor Emily Jermin said the Swansea University student committed the offence at around midnight on March 17.
"PC Cartwright was on duty in Cardiff when he received a call reporting a potential drunk driver," she added. "The officer drove to Junction 33 of the M4, where he saw a Mazda being driven from the service station towards the motorway. He indicated for the driver to pull over and eventually was able to speak to her. He immediately suspected the defendant was under the influence of alcohol. Her speech was slurred and he could smell alcohol on her breath. She was unsteady on her feet."
Huntley was taken to Cardiff Bay police station where officers were initially unable to get a breath reading "due to her lips not being able to adequately seal around the device", said Ms Jermin. Police did not deem this to be a refusal to provide a specimen and were able to obtain a reading when they gave Huntley a different breathalyser. She blew 107mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
Will Marsh, mitigating, said his client has a strong academic background and will soon be starting a master's at Swansea University. He described her as "wholly cooperative" with police.
"She was going through considerable difficulties in her life, not least her relationship with alcohol and using it as a way to deal with the stressful situations she's experienced," he added. "Alcohol isn't the answer and neither is going for a drive when she knows full well she is above the limit. Any of us could give the good advice that she should go for a walk instead of driving miles from her home at midnight.
"The place on her master's course is still available. One would hope that if she throws herself again into her studies and receives help, maybe she can at this very young stage in her life rid herself of her tendency to depend on alcohol."
District Judge Steve Harmes then spoke to Huntley who was supported in court by her boyfriend. The judge told her: "I hope you realise what you did. Your drinking has got to be controlled."
Huntley replied: "Can I just say... I know it's a bit too late but I have been working on reducing my alcohol."
The judge said: "I know you've been to Barod [a substance misuse charity]. In about four months' time you're due to start another course at university aren't you? You need to get yourself straight before then. That course is understanding of your problems but you've got to sort this out. You put people at risk when you did what did. Imagine the carnage there would have been if you lost control of that car."
Imposing a two-year driving ban, Judge Harmes told Huntley: "You must not drive a car. If you do that you will put your future in jeopardy."
He ordered the defendant to complete a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement as well as 10 days of rehab activity. She must pay a £275 fine, £95 victim services surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs. You can read more court stories here.
