Car crash mums drank booze before driving lesson
A PAIR of mums had been drinking booze before they crashed a car whilst one of them was trying to give the other her first driving lesson, a court heard.
Jane Maggs, 42, had never previously driven, but her pal Kelly Shone offered her the chance to learn how to drive an MG3 – even though Shone didn’t hold a licence either.
Manchester’s magistrates heard how Maggs switched on the ignition and released the clutch whilst Shone, 35, operated the gears.
But the vehicle suddenly lurched backwards off Maggs’ driveway in Salford as music was blaring out of the car stereo. The car shot across the road before it ploughed into a parked car and hit a brick wall.
The pair fled back to Maggs’ home in Eccles but police were called and both were breathalysed.
Inquiries revealed both had been drinking rum and cola, plus lager.
The value of the damage to the parked car and wall was estimated at £150 – but it is not known what damage was done to Maggs’ car.
At Manchester magistrates’ court, Maggs, a mum-of-five from Grasmere Crescent, Eccles, admitted drink-driving and having no licence or insurance, and was banned from the roads for 18 months. Mother-of-two Shone, of Higher Croft, Eccles, admitted aiding and abetting drink driving and was disqualified for 12 months.
The incident occurred on June 8, this year, whilst Shone was visiting Maggs and the pair began drinking during the afternoon, the court heard.
Tests revealed Maggs had 152 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg. Shone blew 39 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Maggs appeared in court in a wheelchair following a stroke earlier this year.
The women’s lawyer, Nicola Carter, said in mitigation: “Both have explained to me how embarrassed and ashamed they both are about the incident. This was a summer’s evening. They had a few drinks and then went out and sat in the car listening to music. “The conversation turned to learning to drive. They started the car and put the music on and hence the ignition was on.
“They are very apologetic and remorseful. They are aware about what could have happened. “They now are going to be disqualified despite not even having licences. They are both on benefits.
“Miss Shone is a carer for Miss Maggs. As you can see, Miss Maggs is in a wheelchair and has a number of medical issues as a result of having a stroke. She does have some serious medical concerns.
“Miss Shone and Miss Maggs are connected by family. Miss Maggs is the mother of five children and Miss Shone has two children. They have not been in serious trouble before.”
The women were each fined £180 and ordered to pay £75 compensation and £85 court costs. Nicola Carter, defence lawyer