26-year-old Alice Cannell from Ryde has been banned from driving for 23 months after crashing head-on into a car in Brading last month.
Cannell, of Abingdon Road, was more than 2-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit when she was involved in the collision on Marshcombe Shute on 26th November.
The Isle of Wight Magistrates Court heard today (Tuesday) that Police arrived at the scene of the crash on the railway bridge near Yarbridge Cross to find the road blocked in both directions.
Officers were made aware of the identity of the driver of one of the vehicles involved, a white VW Polo, who was found to smell strongly of alcohol. The 26-year-old, who works part-time as Front of House, failed a roadside breath test. She was arrested and later blew 96 on the evidential breathalyser at Newport Police Station.
Defending, Oscar Vincent said it was the ‘first and last appearence’ in court for his client following what she described to him as a ‘stupid, stupid mistake’. Mr Vincent said that Cannell would normally make arrangements when drinking, but on the night in question, she had attended a training session related to some temporary work she had been offered. At this training session, she was given a few drinks before then making a ‘foolish decision’ to drive.
Those involved in the collision sustained minor injuries as a result of Cannell’s Polo hitting the railway bridge and then into the front of a Ford Fusion.
Magistrates handed Alice Cannell a 23-month driving ban and made her subject to a 12-month community order with 110 hours of unpaid work attached. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 surcharge.
20 month ! should be banned for life
She was “given” a few drinks. NO – she choose to accept alcoholic drinks, knowing full well she would be driving later. Totally unacceptable – should be a lifetime ban for drink driving that ends in a (potentially fatal in this case) accident.
It’s about time insurance companies applied their small print conditions to drink/drug convicted drivers involved in an accident. Don’t pay out for the damage to an insured car.That would really hurt!. Of course, they will still pay out to any 3rd party involved, with the option of recovering those costs from the drunk driver.
I believe if you have an accident and you are drunk it voids your insurance it it comes to a claim that’s why I have uninsured driver cover
She didn’t make a ‘foolish’ decision to drive, she made a ‘wicked’ decision to drive.