Mobility scooter ban for drink-drive woman

CHILDREN brought smiles to the faces of dragons.

But it wasn’t enough for Angela Sterling to secure investment from the fearsome five on Dragon’s Den.

Angela, founder of Lingotots, appeared on the hit BBC Two programme on Sunday with Amy Gumbrell, who runs the local Lingotot franchise, as well as five A WOMAN reliant on her mobility scooter has been banned from using it following a conviction for drinkdriving.

Beverley McDonnell, of Mulberry Court in Golcar, crashed her car into a wall while more than twice the legal limit.

The 47-year-old was disqualified for 16 months but her ban also applies to driving her mobility scooter on the pavement.

Yesterday one of McDonnell’s family members labelled the law “crackers” while another of her supporters claimed that she faced being housebound. young students who sang ‘hello’ to the Dragons in various languages.

Amy said: “It was lovely to see some of our children singing the popular Lingotot welcome song that we sing at all of our classes.

“Singing forms a key part of our classes as we know that young children learn a huge amount

She told the Examiner after the hearing: “I’ll get about – I’ll just have to use taxis.”

McDonnell pleaded guilty at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court to driving her Kia Venga while over the limit.

A member of the public called police after encountering McDonnell in a corner shop on Sycamore through song and interactive actions, but to sing in four different languages and in front of those Dragons and TV cameras is quite an achievement!

“Whilst we didn’t secure the investment we asked for, the show definitely highlighted just how important it is to start teaching languages at a young age and what young children are capable of.”

It was filmed last April and Angela was criticised for saying she hoped to expand to Dubai, but Amy said classes were now running in Dubai.

Amy’s Lingotot classes are in French, Spanish and German. They run in Mirfield, Batley, Dewsbury, Cleckheaton and South Wakefield. Avenue in Golcar at 9.30pm on January 1. She then saw McDonnell hit a wall, went over and removed the keys from the ignition.

McDonnell was arrested and breath tests showed that she had 85 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

This is nearly two-and-a-half times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

McDonnell, who was not represented, explained that she’d recently been released from hospital and not eaten properly for days.

She said she had some drinks, went to sleep for a few hours, woke up and then drove to the shop after deciding that she was hungry.

McDonnell said: “I went out in my slippers but because it was wet my foot slipped off the brake onto the accelerator and I ran straight into the wall.”

Although District Judge Wajid Khalil recognised that her case was unique he had to ban her from driving, although kept this to a minimum of 16 months.

He told the mobile hairdresser: “I have to consider the impact of the sentence.

“Taking away your livelihood is one thing but your day to day mobility will also be affected.

“While I have no discretion (in banning you) I do discretion in how long the disqualification is for.”

McDonnell also has to pay £100 fine, £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.