Mum almost four times the limit when arrested on Queen Alexandra Bridge in Sunderland

Rebecca Haddock, 27, who was almost four times the limit, had the key in the ignition when arrested on Queen Alexandra Bridge in Sunderland.

Haddock, of Kidderminster Square, Downhill, Sunderland, has now been labelled a potential killer for her antics – but escaped a jail term.

District Judge Kathryn Meek told her: “You’re going to end up killing somebody or yourself just because of your alcohol consumption.

“I don’t know what’s going on here. Something is going on because you’ve been to court twice in a relatively short time for driving offences.

“It becomes more difficult and not less difficult. If there’s an issue, you need to accept it. It is a high risk reading.”

Haddock denied having a drink problem when she appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court – despite it being her second alcohol-related driving offence in six years.

The mum-of-one admitted drink driving and has been banned from the roads for 36 months and handed an eight-week suspended prison sentence.

Prosecutor Jeff Taylor told the court Haddock was found in her Vauxhall Corsa at 11.35pm on Tuesday, July 28, on the north-bound carriageway.

He said: “She had her hazards on and was part blocking the carriageway and partly on the pavement.

“She was approached by police officers and had the key in the ignition, and said, ‘It won’t start’.

“She doesn’t deny the offence but doesn’t know how she got to that location.”

Haddock gave a breath test reading of 130 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Heather Bolton, defending, said: “At the time she was very depressed. She has undergone four sessions of therapy.

“I’ve told her that given the reading this has passed the custodial threshold, but I hope that you will suspend the sentence.

“She does work and the disqualification may prove problematic. She may lose her job.”

Haddock’s jail term was suspended for 18 months and she must undergo 25 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service.

She must also take the Drink Impaired Drivers course and pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

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