Driver nearly four-times limit in foggy weather
A drink-driver caught as she struggled to control her car in foggy weather admitted that she needs help.
Sarah McMahon was noticed by police travelling behind her having some difficulty with her Audi A3.
She was driving very slowly but braking unnecessarily and her poor driving continued after the fog cleared.
The officers discovered the 42-yearold was nearly four times the legal limit.
The former dog groomer said she didn’t think she was doing anything wrong but admitted that she could benefit from therapy.
Bill Astin, prosecuting, said that the offence occurred on November 30 at 5.30pm.
Officers on duty saw McMahon’s grey Audi in front of them.
She was driving very slowly and straddling the middle of the road but they initially put this down to the foggy conditions, Kirklees magistrates were told.
Mr Astin said: “As they descended to Woodhead Road at Berry Brow the fog cleared.
“But she continued to travel very slowly, braking unnecessarily and travelling on the wrong side of the road.”
The officers pulled up alongside McMahon, asking her to turn her music down and park the car up.
Mr Astin said: “She struggled to turn the steering wheel and was very slow.
“She was asked to give a sample of breath with a handheld breathalyser and began to explain how to use it.
“She said she knew how to do it as she’d done it before. Then she said: ‘That’s my job gone then.’”
The roadside reading was 138 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
This is nearly four times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.
McMahon was arrested and taken to Huddersfield Police Station.
There she was asked to provide further breath samples but she stopped blowing into the intoxilyzer machine.
She said she didn’t understand what the police officer was saying to her but was reminded that she had cooperated without any problems back in the car.
McMahon, of Netherton Fold in Netherton, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
She had an identical offence on her record dating back to 2018.
McMahon, who was not represented, said she’d been at a property with a male but became uneasy and decided to leave.
She said he made the drinks and could have made them stronger than he should have done.
McMahon told magistrates: “I didn’t think I was in the wrong at the time.
“It was over a year since what happened previously and I’ve been very good. I suffer from anxiety and think I could benefit from some therapy.”
McMahon said she used to be a dog groomer but now cares for her elderly mother.
Magistrates sentenced her to a community order including the 17 day Drink Impaired Drivers’ Programme and 15 rehabilitation activity days.
She was banned from driving for 12 months and must pay £85 court costs and £90 victim surcharge.
I suffer from anxiety and think I could benefit from some
therapy