A drink-driving Melksham mum was caught by police three times in four months.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (29 April), Sarah Shott pleaded guilty to one count of driving while under the influence of alcohol and two counts of failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
The 49-year-old’s first offence occurred on 13 November last year, when a 999 caller reported that a green Vauxhall Mokka was swerving into opposite lanes, mounting the curb and had several near misses with oncoming traffic.
Soon after, another person called to report that the same car had crashed into a lamppost on Bath Road.
Shott was confirmed to be the driver and failed a roadside breath test at the scene. In custody, she made no effort to try and provide a specimen of breath.
Just six days later, on 19 November, the defendant was seen staggering out of a primary school and stalling her car numerous times while trying to pull away.
Officers attended and Shott also failed a roadside breath test on this occasion. She was given several chances to provide a specimen of breath in custody but failed to do so.
These impending convictions did not deter her from continuing to drive under the influence of alcohol.
Her vehicle, with two children on board, was stopped near her home in Trent Crescent on 20 March – where she admitted to having consumed alcohol before getting into the car.
Shott failed a roadside breath test for the third time and was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
The court imposed a six-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months. She was also disqualified from driving for 40 months.
To address her problem with alcohol, she must complete six months of treatment.
PC Luke Hosken said: “Shott persistently drove after drinking alcohol and it is clear from her continued offending that she had no regard for the safety of herself, her passengers or other road users.
“The impact even a small amount of alcohol has on your ability to drive competently and safely can be fatal.
“Last November, Shott crashed her car during school pickup hours and the risk she posed to the public was enormous. It’s a relief that no one was injured by her reckless actions.
“This lengthy disqualification and real threat of imprisonment should serve as a strong deterrent to any consideration of further drink driving from Shott.”
