A woman who crashed her car into a bollard whilst drink driving has been banned from the roads.
21-year-old Aiesha Read damaged her 2013 Ford Focus when she hit the piece of street furniture in Dorcan Way, Swindon, late on Saturday 30 September.
A member of the public called emergency services to report the incident and told the police that they smelt alcohol on the driver’s breath, Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard Wednesday (18 October).
Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, said the defendant failed a roadside breath test and provided an evidence reading of 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Three other people – friends of Read – were in the vehicle when she lost control but avoided injury.
Defence solicitor Caroline Dunne said her client had consumed just two drinks at a friend’s house before giving them a lift into town and “felt okay to drive”.
She said it comes as a “harsh lesson” because the defendant is no longer able to get to her employment as an administrator for a business in Kemble, Gloucestershire.
Ms Dunne told the court that her car was damaged and she cannot afford to repair it – adding that her boyfriend does not work which puts “a lot of financial pressure on her”. She also suffers from anxiety and as a result “finds using public transport difficult”.
Read, of Willowherb Close, Swindon, was fined £120 and disqualified from driving for 14 months. She must also pay costs and a surcharge.
