‘WHAT DO YOU WANT, A FEW HUNDRED QUID?’

What drink-driver said to neighbour after crashing into his car

DRINK-DRIVER Sharon Mitchell crashed into a parked car before going into her home and drinking more booze.

The 44-year-old pulled into a car park off Loomer Road, Chesterton, and reversed into a neighbour’s car.

Police attended and Mitchell said she had drunk alcohol after driving. She was taken to custody where tests showed she was more than three times the legal limit for alcohol.

Now Mitchell, who has a previous conviction for failing to provide a specimen of breath, has been handed a 12-month community order and a 40-month driving ban at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

Prosecutor Emily Pybus said Mitchell was driving a Vauxhall Astra in Loomer Road, at 8.30pm on April 24 last year.

Miss Pybus said: “The defendant’s neighbour saw her drive into the car park. The car stopped and reversed into his own vehicle.

“He witnessed the defendant exit the driver’s seat. When he approached her and said she had just hit his car she replied, ‘What do you want, a few hundred quid?’ She was slurring her words and struggling to walk. He formed the opinion she was definitely under the influence of alcohol.”

Police attended and Mitchell said she had consumed some alcohol since driving. She was taken to custody where she was breathalysed and gave a reading of 108 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35.

Mitchell, of Cresswell Avenue, Waterhayes, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

James Hulse, mitigating, said the offence dated back 15 months.

He said: “She has always conceded driving in relation to this matter but she had consumed alcohol after the incident. The police recovered a bottle of consumed alcohol from her house. She cannot properly recall how much alcohol she had consumed.”

Mr Hulse conceded that Mitchell’s previous conviction meant she would be subject to a minimum three-year driving ban.

Magistrates said it was a high reading and there was an accident but took into account Mitchell’s remorse and guilty plea. As part of the community order Mitchell must complete 135 hours’ unpaid work. She was ordered to pay £400 costs and a £95 surcharge.