Drink-driving carer found slumped at the wheel
A carer was spotted by police after she crashed into a parked car in Sunderland while more than twice the limit.
Mum-of-two Leah Errington, 24, rammed her Renault Clio into the rear of a Ford Fiesta in Durham Road, Sunderland, at 12.45am on Thursday, August 13.
Errington, of Ryemount
Road, Ryhope, was found in the driver’s seat by police – and smelled strongly of booze, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.
After being helped from the vehicle and blood tested at a police station, she was revealed to be over twice the legal limit.
Errington has now been banned from the roads for 20 months and hit with fines and court costs of over £400 after admitting the drink-drive charge.
Prosecutor Clare Irving said: “Officers on duty came across the defendant’s vehicle.
“She was slumped forward in her seat and she was moving but looked dazed.
“No lights were on her vehicle, which was partly on the curb and had front collision damage and the Ford Fiesta had damage to the rear.
“They had to help her out of the vehicle, and they could smell intoxicating liquor on her breath, and she was showing signs of alcohol.
“She was cautioned and arrested for driving above the limit.”
Ms Irving said a test on an evidential police station CAMIC device was not possible due to the presence of mouth alcohol.
A blood sample revealed 184 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.
Errington was fined £300, with £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.