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Woman parked in middle of road so unsteady on feet she had to prop herself up against car

She told the court: 'I do regret it. There are reasons for it but I do not want to get into it'

Craigavon-Courthouse

A woman who was seen intoxicated in the middle of a road in a parked car has been disqualified for 12 months.

The 56-year-old, who represented herself at court, stated: “I am guilty as charged, I do regret it. There are reasons for it but I do not want to get into it.”

Denise Baines, of Glenavon Lane, Lurgan pleaded guilty to being in charge with excess alcohol and failing to provide a specimen of breath at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Court heard that on January 15, police were called to Monbrief East Road, Craigavon, where a woman suspected of being intoxicated was parked in the middle of the road.

A passerby approached the vehicle and spoke to the defendant who appeared unsure of what was happening.

They noted that Baines’ speech was slurred and that there was half a bottle of wine in the back seat of the car.

Police spoke to the defendant who exited the car and was so unsteady she had to use the vehicle to prop herself up.

A preliminary test resulted in a fail and a reading of 91mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Officers observed that the keys to the vehicle were in the panel of the driver door.

Baines was subsequently taken to Lurgan Custody Suite were she refused to gave another breath sample.

The defendant, who represented herself, stated: “I am guilty as charged, I do regret it. There are reasons for it but I do not want to get into it.”

Baines was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine of £500, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within four weeks.

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