Drink driver banned after late night puncture on A697 in Northumberland
A north Northumberland woman has been banned from getting behind the wheel after admitting drink driving.
Kathleen Stawarz, 46, of Field Court, Milfield, pleaded guilty to the offence when she appeared at Berwick Magistrates’ Court.
Magistrates heard the defendant was spotted by police after her Honda Civic suffered a puncture on the A697 near Wooler around 12.40am on June 6.
Prosecutor James Long said the driver was spoken to by officers who could smell alcohol on her breath. She provided a positive roadside breath test and was taken into custody where she provided a sample of 41mg alc/100ml breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
In defence, Ian O’Rourke told magistrates the defendant had gone to a friend’s house and was not intending to drive so had a couple of beers. However, she later changed her mind.
"She was driving the short distance home when the vehicle had a puncture and police arrived as she was on the phone to the AA,” he told the court.
She was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling £253.