TV star’s lips ‘too big for breath test’
Court told of ex-on-the-beach star’s claim that implants impeded breath test
AFORMER Ex On The Beach star claimed her surgically-enhanced lips were too big for her to blow into a breathalyser after she was pulled over by police.
Beautician Scarlett Harrison, 20, from Stockport, was found to be over the alcohol limit when she was stopped in her white Mini One by traffic officers near Manchester’s Piccadilly station. A court heard she had been drinking pink gins.
When she was asked to give an accurate breath sample back at a police station, she said her collagen implants made it too ‘difficult’ for her to get her mouth around the tube.
Harrison, who lives with her parents in Bramhall, attempted four times to blow into the intoximeter machine before confessing to officers ‘my lips are too big’. She was later charged with failing to provide a breath sample.
At Manchester magistrates court, Harrison pleaded not guilty to the charge, claiming she was unable to give a breath sample for ‘medical reasons’.
On the day of her trial, she changed her plea to guilty and was banned from the roads for 16 months.
The court heard Harrison was pulled over near Piccadilly station on June 20 after she had a row with a friend she had been drinking with.
Prosecutor Neil White said: “Police saw the defendant parked up by the taxi rank late at night and were wondering what was going on.
“When the officers went over to speak to her, they could smell alcohol on her breath and so conducted a roadside breath test.
‘’She was over the limit so she was taken to the police station. At the station, they informed her about going through to the intoximeter room and proceeded to discuss the demeanour of the defendant and how she now felt.
‘’She tried to go through with it and attempted to blow four times.
“She told them she was anxious and nervous and when asked by the police officer if there was any reason why she couldn’t provide a sample, she said her lips were too big and she couldn’t blow into it.
“They asked if she had any medical conditions or health conditions that could stop her doing so and she said ‘no, just my lips’.
“This has since been clarified and she was not able to give enough medical evidence, and it was as simple as that. She has a clean driving licence. She has pleaded guilty on the day of her trial.”
Matthew Wallace, defending, said: “She did blow a positive roadside sample and there were four further attempts made at the police station.
“She is somebody who has suffered with anxiety in the past, this is clear on her medical records.
“Along with the current trend, she has collagen implants in her lips which is something that caused her due difficulty in forming a seal around the tube.”
He added: “It was recorded as a failure. It can be either marked as a failure or refusal – but this says nothing about a deliberate refusal.
“She was trying to provide a sample. She fully understands she should not drink and drive at all. She finds herself in this situation and she is very remorseful.”
Magistrates told Harrison: “We have discussed things carefully and I have listened to everything that’s been said. This is a serious offence you have been charged with, drinkdrivers cause danger to the public.”
Harrison was fined £160 and ordered to pay £150 in court costs. She was offered a place on a drinkdriver rehabilitation course.