Sunderland drink driver caught three times the limit told cops she 'only had a half' and hadn't eaten for two days

Siobhan Currie’s speed in her Renault Kangoo on the A690 Durham Road, Sunderland, attracted the attention of police, a court heard.

The would-be cleaning entrepreneur, of Front Road, Pallion, Sunderland, was pulled over and officers could instantly smell booze on her breath.

A roadside breath test on the evening of Saturday, September 12, revealed 103 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Currie has now been banned from the roads for 23 months and hit with fines and court costs of over £300 by magistrates in South Tyneside.

Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said: “The officers’ attention is drawn to Ms Currie’s vehicle which was travelling at speed.

“They stopped the vehicle and can immediately smell alcohol. She failed a roadside breath test and was arrested.

“She was taken to a police station and a CAMIC procedure has produced a reading of 103 microgrammes in breath.

“When arrested, Ms Currie stated to an officer, ‘I’ve only had a half’. She has no previous convictions.”

Mark Richardson, defending Currie, who hopes to set up her own cleaning or laundry business, said: “This was an unremarkable offence.

“This lady had not had anything to eat for two days and had been drinking socially the night before and topped it up during the day and was driving to get something to eat.

“She felt OK to drive, but she made a mistake for which she is mortified.

“She says there’s no issues with drugs or any issues with drink. Clearly there has been an overlap between drinking and driving.

“She hasn’t appeared in court before and you are unlikely to see her again.

“This is an isolated incident of misjudgement. She is a young lady who made a mistake that’s unlikely to be repeated.”

Kay Gilbert, chair of the bench, told Currie: “This will have been a rather sobering experience for you.”

Currie, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, was also fined £200 and must pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

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