A Craigavon woman who has caught drink driving shortly before 1am in the morning with no lights on has been handed a 12 month ban.
The 40-year-old’s solicitor told the court the defendant had used her car to aid her aunt who had taken a fall at licensed premises.
Donna Hobson, 40, of Clonmeen, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Court heard that on January 20, at around 12.45am, police spotted an Audi driving on the Drumgor Road, Craigavon, without any lights on.
Officers stopped the car to speak to the driver. They noted that she appeared intoxicated and was unsteady on her feet.
A preliminary test was carried out which showed that the defendant had 98mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath and Hobson was subsequently arrested.
Whilst in custody, an evidential breath sample was taken giving a reading of 86mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
Defence solicitor Patrick Moriarty stated: “Ms Hobson is absolutely disgusted that she drove that car.”
He explained: “She had been out that night, she drove to a licensed premises, she then walked home leaving the car behind.
“She went to bed and received a call from a friend that her aunt had fallen in the licensed premises. Ms Hobson returned to there and foolishly decided to drive her aunt home.”
Hobson was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine of £300, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 16 weeks.
The defendant was certified for the drink driving course which if completed would see her ban reduced to one of nine months.
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