Drink driver hit van after downing prosecco
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A DRINK driver who downed a bottle of prosecco left a dog with head injuries after she crashed into the car it was travelling in.
Claire Gibson collided with another vehicle as she pulled out to leave a friend’s house in Denton Burn, in Newcastle, one evening in August.
A court was told that the driver of the other car, a van, was uninjured from the impact but his German shepherd dog, who was in the back, suffered cuts to his head and needed veterinary treatment.
The police were called as Gibson appeared drunk and it was found she was nearly three times over the limit.
Now, the mum-of-one has been given a six-month community order and told she must abide by a curfew from Monday to Friday between 7pm and 6am after she pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
Bethany Jendrzejewski, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, said the victim had been driving down Denton Road at around 6pm on August 5 this year. Gibson’s Citroen car then pulled out without indicating and crashed with the front of the vehicle.
Miss Jendrzejewski added: “The driver of the van went to see if the defendant was OK. She appeared incoherent, her eyes were glazed and he could smell alcohol on her breath.”
The police were called and Gibson, of Nayworth Drive, Westerhope, was arrested, having failed a roadside breath test by giving a reading of 97 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35 microgrammes.
The prosecutor said: “The victim’s German shepherd dog was in the rear of the van and he required treatment from the NEVER mind eyes down, keep your eyes peeled and your dabbers close by as Buzz Bingo launches.
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The court heard Gibson was picking up her partner from a friend’s house where she’d been persuaded to have a drink. Denise Jackman, mitigating, said: “She probably had almost a bottle of prosecco and she made the monumental error in judgement of deciding to drive the short distance to their home address.
“She’s not actually managed to drive anywhere as she collided with the van when she pulled out from parking.”
Giving Gibson a community order and banning her from driving for 24 months, District Judge Bernard Begley said: “This is a high reading and there was an accident, so the offence is serious enough for me to impose a community order.” Buzz lollipops, goody bags and much more.
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