Sunderland mum crashed Audi after drinking 'a few bottles' of WKD

Ashley Richardson, 28, collided with a bollard or barrier in Leechmere Road, Sunderland, after drinking with friends and getting behind the wheel to restock.

Richardson, of The Crescent, Silksworth, stayed at the scene on Saturday, September 26, and was cooperative with police, a court heard.

She admitted to drinking bottles of alcoholic WKD before setting out in her A4 model to a shop - and gave an over-the-limit breath test reading.

Richardson has now been banned from the roads for 13 months and hit with fines and court costs of £259.

Prosecutor Grace Taylor told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “Officers attended the scene of a road traffic accident.

“The defendant was drunk and confirmed she had been driving the crashed Audi.

“A roadside breath test was carried out, which was failed and she was taken to the station where a CAMIC test was taken.”

The court heard Richardson has six previous convictions for six offences, but none relevant to her latest crime.

Heather Bolton, defending, said: “She had separated from her partner just before this.

“She had a few bottles of WKD. She was with friends and had no intention of driving but decided to go to the shop and there was a collision.

“The crash was into a barrier or a bollard. She was compliant at the scene and admitted that she was the driver.

“It’s a relatively low reading and she has never been before a court on an alcohol-related matter.

“She tells me that it was the shock that she needed.

“She tells me that she’s walking her children to school and knows that she’s going to be disqualified today.

“I would ask you to impose the lowest disqualification and offer her the drink-driver rehabilitation course.”

The court heard Richardson gave a reading of 44mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

District Judge Kathryn Meek offered her the chance to sit the rehabilitation course which can reduce a ban by a quarter.

Richardson was fined £140 and must pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

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