Fourth driving ban for woman who caused crash on way home from the pub

A woman who had already been banned from driving three times crashed into another car^[1] while driving home from the pub. Amanda Shelton had met with a friend and had two glasses of wine before the collision took place.

Shelton, of Leicester Road, Whitwick, had been drinking at The West End pub in Coalville's Ashby Road with her friend on Thursday, October 3 before she set off home. However, Leicester Magistrates' Court^[2] was told that as the 42-year-old encountered roadworks in Highfield Street she crashed into another vehicle and then smashed through a barrier into the roadworks area.

Leicestershire Police^[3] arrived and Shelton admitted she had been drinking. Prosecutor Sukhy Basi told the magistrates: "The defendant did make several significant comments. She told police she had been drinking and had two glasses of wine. She hit the Mazda, drove through a construction fence before coming to a stop."

Court heard that Shelton had nine previous offences on her record^[5]. These included a drink-driving offence in 2006 that led to a 12-month bad, another drink-driving incident in 2014 that led to a 40-month ban and then a third in 2021 when she was convicted of driving while under the influence of drugs. That led to a 24-month driving ban.

Breathalyser readings after Shelton's latest offence saw her register 49 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Rashpal Singh, representing Shelton, said his client didn't have a drinking problem and was just a "casual" drinker. He said: "She had been in a pub and had two glasses and she thought she was just about safe to drive. I asked her if alcohol left her impaired and she said she didn't see the temporary roadworks. She said it was the darkness, not the alcohol."

Mr Singh asked the magistrates to keep the ban to the minimum of 36 months. He also asked them to give her a chance to retake the drink-driving awareness course, which would reduce the length of the ban.

But the magistrates banned Shelton for 40 months and refused to let her do the drink-driving awareness course^[6], which she had taken just over 10 years ago.

The chair of the bench, Gareth Roberts, told Shelton: "Clearly there are issues you need to address about getting behind the wheel of a car. You have been offered the course before and clearly that didn't work. So we are not going o offer you the course again."

He warned her not to drive until the ban ends in 40 months time or face prison: "With your track record, if you're caught behind the wheel of a car, custody is a likely option."

Shelton, who is on benefits, was ordered to pay a £120 fine, a £48 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

References

1. ^{^} already been banned from driving three times crashed into another car (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Leicester Magistrates' Court (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Leicestershire Police (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Drink driving arrest made after A511 Leicestershire lorry crash (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
5. ^{^} nine previous offences on her record (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
6. ^{^} banned Shelton for 40 months and refused to let her do the drink-driving awareness course (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)