A drink driver from Niton nearly smashed her brand new Kia into another car upon entering a supermarket car park has been banned from driving for 17 months.
Beverly Mitchell, 61, of Niton Road in Rookley, admitted drink driving when she appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier this week.
Prosecutor Lauren McConnell told the court that on 8th October an off-duty Police officer noticed a silver Kia Nero nearly hit a car upon its entry to the Co-op car park in Rookley.
The driver – Mitchell – was seen to be unsteady on her feet as she walked into the store.
Officers arrived on scene but Mitchell had gone. Checks of the vehicles gave Police her home address and so officers visited her house, immediately noticing the car on the drive.
Mitchell initially denied driving the vehicle before later admitting that she had been out and had got home just 15 minutes earlier. A breath test was conducted at Newport Police Station where Mitchell blew a reading of 61 – almost twice the legal limit of 35.
Mitchell has a single previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol back in 2006.
Defending Mitchell, Oscar Vincent told the court that the brand new Korean motor was supplied to Mitchell through her motability allowance. He also added that though not usually a drinker, family issues led to Mitchell having a drink the night before she was arrested.
The 61-year-old was handed a 17-month driving ban and was fined £120. She was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £48 surcharge fee.
Too lenient of a sentence. Drink driving kills
Instant imprisonment is the only way to
STOP selfish persons drink driving.
Should have been 17months jail. Drunken low life shit keep getting away with endangering inocent people’s lives
She ha s brand new car but go off with a £120 fine. Isle of Wight Magistrates need to consider their positions. If she can buy a new car then drive it around while twice the drink drive limit, the new car should be in a crusher. Drink and drug driving would soon be curtailed if people forfeited their car.