Drink-driver, 34, snared by police after boyfriend bust-up

Drink-driving Maxine Grocott has been banned from the roads for 12 months. The 34-year-old was seen driving a Citroen Picasso in Dawlish Drive, Bentilee[1], at 2.30am on September 10. Prosecutor Hannah Baddeley told North Staffordshire Justice Centre[2] : "Police witnessed her driving and noted her manner of driving was poor.

They followed her for a short distance and she came to a natural stop. "Police said she was unsteady on her feet and they could smell alcohol. She was taken to custody and was breathalysed providing a reading of 42 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35."

READ: Drink-driver who lives 10 minutes' walk away from her local crashes into wall - Lisa Shaw had been drinking in The Butcher's Arms, in Forsbrook, before the 1am crash[3] READ: Drink-driving businessman crashed van into wall on way to pick up chippy tea - Peter Davis, 53, is now addressing his drink problem[4] Grocott, of Dawlish Drive, Bentilee[5], pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Kate Preston, mitigating, said Grocott is of previous good character. She said her client had been to a friend's house for a social occasion. She had no intention to drive and walked home.

Miss Preston added: "There was a domestic argument between her and her partner which led to him storming out of the property. She was concerned for his welfare so followed him. She drove around the block in her car.

She made a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was the wrong decision. "It was a very short distance driven with little traffic or pedestrians.

The police saw her as she was turning into her own street. She was spoken to. She was fully co-operative."

Magistrates fined Grocott GBP80 and ordered her to pay GBP135 costs and a GBP32 surcharge.

Her ban will be reduced by three months if she completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course.

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References

1. ^ Bentilee (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
2. ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
3. ^ Drink-driver who lives 10 minutes' walk away from her local crashes into wall (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
4. ^ Drink-driving businessman crashed van into wall on way to pick up chippy tea (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
5. ^ Bentilee (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
6. ^ or click here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)