A Lurgan woman who attempted to drive off after being stopped by police whilst over the legal limit has been handed a three year disqualification.
The 41-year-old’s legal representative stated his client had been on her way to pick up her son, who had got “into a spot of bother” with some other youths.
Kelly Lee Carson, of Lime Grove, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with direction given by a constable in uniform carrying out functions under the Road Traffic Orders and driving with excess alcohol at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that on August 4, at 9.55pm, police on patrol of Sloan Street in Lurgan observed a Volkswagen Golf being driven at speed.
Officers followed and watched as the driver made a right turn onto Union Street without using indicators.
Police spoke to the driver, who was identified as this defendant, and it was noted that her breath smelled of intoxicating liquor.
Officers did not a have a breathalyser with them and as they waited for another crew to arrive with one, Carson started the ignition of her vehicle and drove off.
The defendant was stopped 400 metres away and a preliminary breath test was conducted resulting in a fail.
Carson was taken into custody and whilst there a sample of blood was obtained for testing at 1.30am which gave a reading of 83mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood – the limit being 80mg.
Defence counsel described it as a “marginally high reading” but accepted the defendant “should have known better given her record”.
Explaining the offence, he stated that Carson had been on her way to pick up her son, who had got “into a spot of bother” with some other youths.
District Judge Bernie Kelly disqualified the defendant from driving for a period of three years and ordered her to pay a fine of £450, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
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