A 75-year-old woman from Totland has been banned from the roads after being caught drink driving – 22 years after a previous drink-drive conviction.
Retiree Ann O’Donnell, of Hurst Hill, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with drink driving – an offence she pleaded guilty to.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that Police received a tip-off shortly before 18:40 on 24th June that O’Donnell was about to leave home to go to the shop whilst under the influence.
Officers searched the area around the drink driver’s home and stopped her Ford B-Max on Weston Road. Despite using perfume to cover up the smell of alcohol, Police could smell alcohol and requested a roadside breath test. Ann O’Donnell eventually blew 56 following a number of failed attempts, later blowing 49 on the evidential breathalyser at Newport Police Station.
The court heard that O’Donnell was previously convicted of drink driving in 1999.
Defending, James Cameron explained that his client regularly consumes wine at home and didn’t think she was over the limit. The offence occurred around the anniversary of Ann’s husband’s death and at a time when she was struggling with the COVID pandemic.
Magistrates handed down a 13-month driving disqualification and a £138 fine. Ann O’Donnell was also ordered to pay £85 costs with a £34 surcharge.
