DELIVERY DRIVER GRAN CRASHED INTO CAR WHILE 3 TIMES LIMIT
50-year-old unexpectedly called into work
A GRANDMOTHER working two jobs was caught driving while more than three times the legal alcohol limit.
Jane Salt crashed her Peugeot into the back of a car that was waiting at a junction.
The 50-year-old was working as a delivery driver at the time, having been called into work unexpectedly. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard she had been drinking due to a traumatic event a few days earlier.
Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “On May 4 this defendant was involved in a road traffic collision with a stationary Citroen waiting at a junction in Milehouse Lane.
“The Citroen driver said she was waiting at the junction when she saw the defendant mount the kerb then collide with her vehicle. The Peugeot then reversed slightly before again colliding with the Citroen.
“Police attended and spoke to the defendant. They were concerned she had been drinking. She provided a positive roadside breath test.”
Salt, of Russell Street, Wolstanton, was arrested and taken to custody, where she gave an alcohol reading of 121 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
She pleaded guilty to driving while over the alcohol limit. She had no previous convictions.
Mike Kimberley, mitigating, said Salt worked as a school catering manager and had a second job as a delivery driver, and would lose both as a result of her conviction. Mr Kimberley said Salt had previously been in an abusive relationship and an incident two days before her offence triggered flashbacks of that trauma.
“On May 2 she was on a delivery shift and went back to the shop to pick up more parcels. While she was there, there was an incident in the shop and a knife was dropped on the ground.
“Mrs Salt witnessed this and it caused flashbacks to a previous relationship that was very violent and abusive. It clearly affected her emotionally and mentally.
“On the day of the offence, she had finished work at her main job and had started to drink. She wasn’t expecting to go out. She then had a phone call begging her to do a delivery shift. She didn’t like to say no.
“She is deeply embarrassed and ashamed about appearing in court.”
Magistrates handed Salt a 12-month community order with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours unpaid work. She was disqualified from driving for 32 months, which will be reduced if she completes a drink drive rehabilitation course.
She must also pay £230 in court costs and charges.