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10
May
‘This is one of the highest readings we’ve seen’, magistrates tell Dacre Banks drink-driver
A woman who was nearly five times the drink-drive limit was sentenced at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (May 9).
Victoria Wiltshire, of Church View in Dacre Banks, pleaded guilty to drink-driving on March 20 this year.
The case was adjourned until Friday for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police received a call from a member of the public at around 2.45pm on February 21.
The caller was concerned about a car that was blocking the road on Hilton Lane in Knaresborough.
They also believed the driver – Wiltshire – was either under the influence of a substance or “having a mental health episode”.
Ms Ibbotson said when police arrived, they opened Wiltshire’s car door and were “overpowered by the smell of alcohol”.
“Police said she seemed almost delirious”, Ms Ibbotson added.
The court heard Wiltshire gave a positive roadside breath sample and was arrested.
At the police station, she provided a reading of 163 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit being just 35 micrograms.
Defendant has had a ‘very troubled year’
Sean Wilson, defending, cited the pre-sentence report during the hearing but it was not read aloud in court.
The court heard Wiltshire, 46, returned to the UK in the last year.
She had been living abroad but came back to the UK following the breakdown of her relationship.
Mr Wilson told the court the defendant had experienced a number of losses in her life in the lead up to the offence, including the recent death of her father.
She admitted the offence in interview. She had been using alcohol as a coping mechanism due to what had happened over the last year.
He said Wiltshire had been out drinking the night before the incident. On the day of the offence, she had also been out for lunch and continued drinking that day.
She decided to get behind the wheel as she “did not want to leave her dog on its own”.
Wiltshire suffers with anxiety and depression, but she has sought help for her mental health.
Mr Wilson said:
Ms Wiltshire made a mistake and was thinking poorly. She has had a very troubled year.
The chair of the magistrates’ bench told Wiltshire the reading was “one of the highest we have ever seen”.
He said her behaviour was “wholly unacceptable”.
Wiltshire was banned from driving for 36 months, which would be reduced by 36 weeks if she completes a drink-driving course by a set date.
She was sentenced to 17 weeks in custody, suspended for one year.
Wiltshire was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days, 120 days of alcohol abstinence monitoring and 200 hours of unpaid work.
She must also pay a £154 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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