Drink-driver crashed on way to work
JAGUAR CLIPPED CAR AFTER LATE WHISKY AND WINE
A DRINK-DRIVER clipped a car after drinking whisky and wine until 1am.
Shelley Hilton, 39, was seen by another motorist swerving right and coming back towards him before colliding with the offside of his car.
Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard that her Jaguar XFS went spinning before coming to rest on the central reservation of the A1 at Blyth on July 28.
Hilton, of Station Road, Retford, got out of the Jaguar and immediately said: “It’s completely my fault.”
The accident happened after 9.10am. She said she last drank alcohol the previous evening and had not had anything that morning.
A breath test revealed 54 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35.
Hannah Eddison, mitigating, said: “She is visibly upset about the position she finds herself in and is genuinely remorseful about the incident which took place.
“She is a lady with a number of health conditions and, as a result of medication, had been struggling to sleep, and having a drink is something she found helped her sleep at night. She certainly doesn’t use it as an excuse for her behaviour but adds context.” She felt fine to drive and set off for work. While pulling on to the road, believes she was heavy-handed with the accelerator which caused her vehicle to start to fishtail.
She accepted her vehicle clipped the man’s car and admitted drinkdriving. Ms Eddison added: “She is a lady at the age of 39, has never troubled the courts before, never been in this position before and is a lady of good character.”
She works for the director of a Doncaster construction company in the administration/sales team. Her employers were fully aware of her situation, the court heard. Magistrates fined her £364 and ordered ger to pay £85 costs and a £36 victim surcharge. She was banned from driving for 16 months, which will be reduced if she completes a drinkdrive rehabilitation course.
She is visibly upset about the position she finds herself in and is genuinely remorseful
Hannah Eddison, mitigating