DRINK-DRIVING CARER TRACED BY COPS AFTER SHE ABANDONED CAR

Woman, 22, chose to leave home after row with partner

CARER Ella Whyman has been banned from the roads for 44 months after she was caught drink-driving for the second time.

The 22-year-old had drank a bottle of Prosecco before leaving her home after a row with her partner.

But she left her car on a garage forecourt in Shelton as some of the tyres were flat. She was tracked down and taken to custody where she was breathalysed and gave a reading of 92 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit of 35.

Now Whyman has been handed a 12 month community order at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

Prosecutor Angela Trafford said police were refuelling at a Shell garage in Shelton on June 8 when they noticed an abandoned car on the forecourt with flat tyres.

Miss Trafford said: “A man told them a woman had driven it on the forecourt. Checks were conducted and the defendant was spoken to. She smelt of intoxicating liquor.

“She was taken to the Northern Area Custody Facility in Etruria where she gave a positive reading of 92 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35.”

The defendant said she had argued with her boyfriend and started drinking alcohol. She was unsure why she drove but accepted she had.

Whyman, of Bucknall New Road, Hanley, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

The court heard the defendant has a previous conviction for drink-driving. A probation officer who interviewed the defendant said: “She drank at least a bottle of Prosecco. She was drinking eight or nine bottles of wine a week. She has had a problem with alcohol consumption since the age of 17. She is now alcohol free for 16 days.”

He said any ankle bracelet as part of a curfew would lead to the loss of Whyman’s job as a full-time care assistant. She has reconciled with her partner and is now six weeks pregnant.

Simon Leech, mitigating, said the first drink-drive offence happened when the defendant was aged 19. He said: “A designated driver was intoxicated and she chose to drive him and a six-year-old home.

“She has been struggling with alcohol since her late teens. There has been a sense of self isolation.

“Matters came to a head on this day. There was an argument. She found herself leaving the house. She had not been drinking and driving. She had been at home and she chose to leave the house following the argument which led to her coming to the attention of the police.”

As part of the community order Whyman must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 25 days. She was fined £153 and ordered to pay £135 costs and a £95 surcharge. Her ban will be reduced by 44 weeks if she completes a drinkdrivers’ rehabilitation course.