3-YEAR BAN AND SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR WOMAN WHO WAS OVER 4X THE DRINK DRIVE LIMIT

A Newport mother who was caught driving at almost 4-and-a-half times the limit – said to be one of the highest readings the court has seen – has narrowly avoided an immediate custodial sentence. Beata Mazurek, 41, of Rooke Street in Newport pleaded guilty to a single charge of drink driving when she appeared before Magistrates earlier this year. Now, she has been sentenced for the incident which occurred on 19th December 2023. Liz Miller, prosecuting, explained to the court that Mazurek was spotted by Police driving along Quarr Hill, towards Ryde, at around 22:35 at night in the run up to Christmas. The officers followed her for a short period as she swerved across the road. The 41-year-old was stopped on Argyll Street and officers approached her car. As they did so and she wound down the window, a strong smell of alcohol was evident. She initially denied having consumed alcohol, but then made roadside admissions. She was subsequently arrested and taken to Newport Police Station where the lowest evidential breathalyser reading was 156 – the legal limit being just 35. The defendant began crying in the dock as Michael McGoldrick, defending, described how Mazurek is a vulnerable woman due to a history of domestic abuse. He explained that the 41-year-old had poor mental health and used alcohol as a crutch at her darkest times. He also told the bench that she was a carer for her elderly father. Magistrates handed Beata Mazurek a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to her complete 8 rehabilitation days. She was banned from driving for 36 months. She was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £154 surcharge.