Husband reported wife's drink driving to police

Catherine Hawkins said getting into the car drunk had been disgraceful and she now wanted to turn her life around, magistrates heard before giving her a lengthy driving ban.

Nichola Ritchie, prosecuting, told the court that police were called on June 3 and spotted the 44-year-old driving her Mini in Plantation Drive at around 8pm.

Officers pulled her over, in Barass Avenue, not far from her home in the road, and she took a roadside breathalyser test which she failed.

Hawkins was taken into custody and at Worcester Police Station she gave two readings, the lowest being 108mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mcg.

In a probation report Hawkins said she regretted what she did and had now been seeking help for alcohol issues from Swanswell, the alcohol recovery service, and at AA meetings.

The report said: "When she was under the influence on the evening of the offence that (an AA meeting) was where she intended to go.

"There is no reason for her to drink.

"She has her own business with her a partner, and a 12-year-old daughter."

The probation officer suggested counselling to find out the reasons behind Hawkins' drinking problems.

Mark Lister, defending Hawkins, said credit should be given for her early guilty plea, given at the first opportunity, and the fact she had acknowledged the problems she had had with drink, which he described as an "ongoing struggle".

"This is one of those cases the focus should be on prevention and rehabilitation," Mr Lister said.

"She knows it was wrong to have been drinking while over the limit.

"She has a daughter and really wants to go to groups and turn her life around.

"Her husband was the one who reported her to the police."

He added that he would recommend magistrates went with the probation service's suggestion for her to receive a community order.

Simon Freebairn, chairman of the magistrates bench, said they had listened carefully to all parties in reaching their sentencing, and praised Hawkins in already having taken action to deal with her issues with alcohol.

Hawkins was given a 12 month community order including 40 rehabilitation activity days, with 15 sessions focused on the drinking issues.

Magistrates disqualified her from driving for two years, being warned that she can not drive on any public road and to do so would be a "very serious offence" that she would be brought back to court for.

Magistrates offered Hawkins the opportunity to complete the drink drive awareness course which, if Hawkins completes successfully, will reduce the ban period by 25 per cent.

Hawkins was also told she will have to complete 40 hours unpaid work, and ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £85.

Hawkins offered to pay the full amount of £220 in full within 14 days, an offer which was accepted by magistrates.

The case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.