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02
Sept
Woman handed lengthy ban after being twice drink-drive limit at Wetherby Services
A woman who was more than twice the drink-drive limit at Wetherby Services has been handed a lengthy driving ban.
Jill Harrington pleaded guilty on July 17 to drink-driving in a case heard at Harrogate Magistrates Court.
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report, which was not read aloud when Harrington, of North Dalton in East Yorkshire, returned to court last Thursday (August 28).
Alison Whiteley, prosecuting, told the court Harrington stayed at the Days Inn at Wetherby Services on May 17.
The following morning, at around 10.30am, the hotel manager saw Harrington “stumbling all over” before getting behind the wheel of her car.
The employee called the police after Harrington drove off, the court heard.
The defendant returned around 15 minutes later, when she went back to the hotel and asked to extend her stay.
Harrington, 64, told police she had driven the car but officers noted she was unsteady on her feet and clearly “very drunk”.
Ms Whiteley said the defendant was arrested and gave a reading of 82 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
Harrington was also convicted of drink-driving in 2020, making it her second conviction in the last five years.
'I will remain sober'
Brian Nuttney, defending, told the court Harrington was not able to attend her first hearing, which was adjourned, as she was in a rehabilitation centre.
He said Harrington had been staying at the Days Inn as she was on her way to Scotland to show her dog, but wanted to break up the journey.
She was nervous and had a drink, Mr Nuttney said, adding “one thing led to another” and Harrington decided to drive.
He said:
She knows now it was a bad thing to do.
Mr Nuttney told the court Harrington, who was born in London but moved away after a former neighbour was stabbed, was remorseful.
She has since found a home in East Yorkshire and is settled there.
However, the court heard Harrington has had a “long and difficult relationship with alcohol”.
Harrington, who has lost other family members to alcoholism, started misusing alcohol in her 40s following a traumatic relationship and childhood.
She has gone through periods of sobriety, Mr Nuttney said, adding Harrington has even sponsored other people to help them overcome their alcoholism.
He added:
After this incident, she realised she had to do something about her drinking. She went to rehab in Bournemouth and spent more than £12,000 on treatment.
Harrington is still actively seeking support for her alcohol use and had been sober for 98 days at the time of the hearing.
Mr Nuttney read a statement prepared by Harrington to the court, which said:
Without doubt my actions were selfish and irresponsible.
Alcoholism is more powerful than anything I have ever known … I will remain sober to show myself and others what can be achieved.
Harrington was handed a 12-month community order, which requires her to complete up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 90-day alcohol monitoring requirement.
She was banned from driving for 46 months and ordered to pay a total of £199 to the court.
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