WITH PREVIOUS CONVICTION

THREE YEAR BAN FOR WOMAN

A TIPSY mum who aroused suspicions at a McDonald’s drive-through in Derby was found to be more than twoand-a-half-times the legal drink-drive limit.

Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard that Tara Barnes had been to the cinema with a friend on the day she was caught.

The 28-year-old single mum took her car through the drive-through at the Meteor Centre and police were informed.

Lynn Bickley, prosecuting, said: “It was 11.45pm and police received a call that the defendant was suspected of having been drinking. It said she had gone through the drive-through section of the restaurant at the Meteor Centre, and when officers arrived she was in the driver’s seat with the engine running and the keys in the ignition, eating a McDonald’s.

“She was asked to get out of the car and, as she did, it was noted that she was stumbling. Her eyes were also noted to be glazed and she gave a positive breath test at the roadside.”

Miss Bickley said Barnes, of Cherry Tree Close, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, was arrested and taken to a police station where a second breath test was taken.

She gave a reading of 90 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Miss Bickley said: “In her interview, she made full admissions, saying she had been out in Nottingham and then came over to Derby with a friend to watch a film. She said she had drunk three glasses of wine and a beer.

“The officer did note that she was upset and showed genuine remorse.”

Miss Bickley said Barnes, who has a 10-month-old son, has one previous conviction for drink-driving which meant she faced a mandatory threeyear road ban.

She pleaded guilty to drink-driving in relation to the latest offence which took place on November 24. Magistrates gave her a three-year ban and told her to carry out 60 hours unpaid work. She also has to pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Earl Pinnock, for Barnes, said his client had carried out a ‘gross misjudgement about the amount of alcohol in her system.’

He said: “She is a single mother to a 10-month-old son and works parttime. On the day of the offence she had been out in Nottingham and had a couple of glasses of wine in the afternoon. In total she says she had three glasses of wine and a beer.

“She pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and shows genuine remorse through that guilty plea.”

The officer did note that she was upset and showed genuine remorse

Lynn Bickley, prosecuting