Carer found to have crashed car while drunk

A part time carer who was herself the subject of fraudulent activity, drank so much alcohol that she crashed into a parked car, a court has heard.

Sandra Hopkins, 63, of Roberts Walk, Long Sutton, admitted driving with excess alcohol when she appeared at Boston Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting, Shelley Wilson said that at 6.20pm on October 27, Mrs Hopkins crashed her Renault car into a parked car in Little London, Long Sutton.

Police attended and she gave a positive breath test and was arrested, providing a reading of 96 micrograms of alcohol in her breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35.

Ms Wilson said Mrs Hopkins had a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol in 2001.

Helen Coney, in mitigation, said Mrs Hopkins had herself been the victim of fraudulent activity in relation to her employment as a carer and that was what had led her to drink on that day.

She said she had not driven since the collision and also had not drunk any alcohol.

Mrs Hopkins was banned from driving for two years, but was offered the drink drivers’ rehabilitation course, which will reduce the period of the ban by 24 weeks.

She was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £119 in court costs and charges.