Drink driver downed vodka in her car before smashing into another vehicle while more than three times the limit

Claire Burn, 51, had drank half a bottle of vodka in her Mini car before she crashed into another vehicle at the A195/A812 Washington Highway roundabout on November 21.

The defendant, who lives in Purley, Washington, was found to have 124 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, with the limit being 35.

Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said following the crash witnesses noticed something was wrong and that she appeared to be under the influence and the police were called.

She said nobody was injured during the collision.

A spokesman for the probation service said Burn, who pleaded guilty to drink driving, admitted she had been an alcoholic from the age of 16 and that at the time of the crash had suffered a relapse.

She said: “She got half a bottle of vodka and drank it in the car and said she had been drinking the night before.

“She has shown some remorse and has sought counselling.”

The probation officer said Burn has been unemployed for a month after losing her job due to the relapse in her drinking and that she lives with her elderly mother and is a carer for her.

She said over the years her alcoholism has caused a number of relationship breakdowns with family members.

Christopher Wilson, defending, said: “Her life has been blighted by the consequences of alcohol dependency since the age of 16.”

However, he said there have been periods when she has remained sober.

He said: “She has drunk alcohol in the car and then made the erroneous decision to drive.”

Mr Wilson said the crash has been a wake-up call for her and she has now sought help from experts such as Wear Recovery, to help with her drinking.

District Judge Kathryn Meeks, told Burn: “This is a really high reading and it is sheer chance no-one was caused any injury.”

Burn was banned from driving for three years and given a 12-month community order, which includes up to 20 days rehabilitation and 100 hours of unpaid work.