Drink-drive mum’s ‘absolute madness’
JUDGE SLAMS 38-YEAR-OLD AFTER DISCOVERING HER DAUGHTER IS IN RESPITE CARE
THE case of a mum who got behind the wheel while more than two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit - while her daughter was in respite care - was deemed ‘absolute madness’ by a judge.
Sarah Briggs, 38, has been banned from the road for a year.
She was pulled over by officers in Ashton-Under-Lyne after she’d been out drinking with friends. Officers smelled alcohol on her breath and a roadside breath test was carried out.
Briggs was arrested and taken to Central Park police station, where she provided a further sample, Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard.
The lowest reading was 92mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
In a pre-sentence report read by District Judge Mark Hadfield, it was said Briggs’ teenager daughter was in respite care the night Briggs had been out with pals in April.
Prosecutor Robin Lynch said officers were on patrol on Oldham Road at around 7.30pm when they stopped Briggs.
Crying in the dock, Briggs - who wasn’t legally represented - said: “I’m sorry, I’m really ashamed. I’m devastated by my actions.
“I’m going to have to deal with the consequences.
“It’s been six weeks since the interim [banning] order and I’ve been barely coping. I’ve got the car for another two years and it’s been adapted, but I’ve got to make a decision about what to do now. I can put other people on the insurance in the meantime.”
Judge Hadfield told her “It’s absolute madness.
“You should have known not to drive, you were two-and-a-half times the limit.
“I understand from the pre-sentence report that you met with friends when your daughter was in respite care.
“She depends on your care and you’re responsible for maintaining appointments and getting to the respite care, as I understand
it.
“This case indicates how foolish people can be - without thinking of the consequences not just for yourself, but your daughter as well.
“Due to the level of the reading, the court should be considering a community penalty and a lengthy disqualification. Though, it is not your daughter’s fault you appear before the court but she will be the one who is affected. I take into account the impact [the ban] would have not only on your but your daughter too.”
Briggs, of Beech Avenue, was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a £200 fine and £119 court costs.
It’s not your daughter’s fault you appear before the court but she will be the one affected Judge Hadfield