Sunderland mum banned from driving after being stopped by police while almost three times the limit

Kelly Ashley, 25, of Keighley Avenue, Downhill, Sunderland, jumped in her Vauxhall Adam car after a row with her then boyfriend.

But she had been boozing when she decided to get away for the allegedly toxic environment, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said police were tipped off about a potential drink-driver and pulled Ashley over at 3.55am on Washington Road, Sunderland, on Monday, February 22.

Ashley gave a reading of 102 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

She has now been banned from driving for 25 months and fined £200, but been given permission to take a rehabilitation course to reduce her disqualification.

Ms Duffy told the court: “Officers were in a marked police van when they were given information about a possible drink-driver in the Town End Farm area.

“They sighted the vehicle in Washington Road, and proceeded to follow it.

“It had no lights on despite it being the early hours and being dark.

“When the officers approached, the defendant had slurred speech, smelled of intoxicating liquor and her eyes were glazed.”

Ms Duffy said single mother Ashley was arrested and taken to a police station where an evidential breath test on a CAMIC device proved she was over the limit.

Annalisa Moscardini, defending, told the court in mitigation: “She’s been at her partner’s house. They are no longer together.

“There’s been an argument. She had had some alcohol while there and then made the quite foolish decision to drive.

“It’s not a normal course of behaviour for her, it isn’t something she has done before. It’s not an excuse, and she knows it’s not an excuse.

“Her five-year-old son has autism. She drives the van at a school for children with autism.

“She has blown 102 microgrammes, it’s a high reading. She’s very sorry.”

The magistrates also ordered Ashley, who pleaded guilty to drink driving, that she must pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

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