Drink-driving carer found slumped at the wheel by cops after crashing into a parked car in Sunderland

Mum-of-two Leah Errington, 24, rammed her Renault Clio into the rear of a Ford Fiesta in Durham Road, Sunderland, at 12.45am on Thursday, August 13.

Errington, of Ryemount Road, Ryhope, was found in the driver’s seat by police – and smelled strongly of booze, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.

After being helped from the vehicle and blood tested at a police station, she was revealed to be over twice the legal limit.

Errington has now been banned from the roads for 20 months and hit with fines and court costs of over £400 after admitting the drink-drive charge.

Prosecutor Clare Irving said: “Officers on duty came across the defendant’s vehicle.

“She was slumped forward in her seat and she was moving but looked dazed.

“No lights were on her vehicle, which was partly on the curb and had front collision damage and the Ford Fiesta had damage to the rear.

“The officers had to turn their vehicle around and after they did she was still in the car.

“They had to help her out of the vehicle, and they could smell intoxicating liquor on her breath, and she was showing signs of alcohol.

“She was cautioned and arrested for driving above the limit.”

Ms Irving said a test on an evidential police station CAMIC device was not possible due to the presence of mouth alcohol.

A blood sample revealed 184 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Annalisa Moscardini, defending, said: “In August, she was working as a care worker and she was working long shifts due to the pandemic, it was a key worker role.

“She was struggling, her relationship with her partner had broken down and she also has two young children.

“She had gone to see her sister and had had a drink, but she thought she was okay to drive but she wasn’t. She lost control of the vehicle.”

Errington, who has no previous convictions, was fined £300, with £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.