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24
Apr
Drunk driver admits turning wrong way down one-way Harrogate street
A woman who drove the wrong way down a one-way street while drunk has been sentenced at Harrogate Magistrates Court.
Laura Land, of Fulwith Road in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to one charge of drink-driving on February 6.
The case was adjourned until April 17 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were on duty in the early hours of January 18 this year.
Officers were travelling on York Place from Otley Road, heading towards the Empress Roundabout, when they saw a car being driven by the defendant.
The court heard Land, who was travelling in the opposite direction to police, made a right turn from York Place onto Station Parade – taking her the wrong way down a one-way system.
Police stopped Land’s car outside Waitrose supermarket.
The 47-year-old defendant told officers she had been drinking and was slurring her words in the driver's seat of the car.
Land was arrested and gave a reading of 112 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath shortly after 5am – the legal limit is just 35 micrograms.
The defendant is of previous good character.
Defendant is a ‘pillar of society’
Ghaz Iqbal, defending, told the court it is “always sad when a defendant is before the court with a previously impeccable record”.
Land is a “pillar of society” who “does a lot for other people and organisations”, he said.
The court heard the defendant had an argument with someone on the night of the offence.
Mr Iqbal added:
Too much alcohol was consumed, which resulted in spiteful words. She just left and was in a low mood.
She is deeply embarrassed about this.
The pre-sentence report was not read aloud in open court, but the defence said Land had only driven a short distance.
“I do concede she drove the wrong way down a one-way, but there was little to no traffic at the time”, Mr Iqbal said.
Land does not have any issues with substance abuse, and was described as “educated and intelligent”.
The court heard the incident was a “one-off after an argument”.
The defendant knows what she did was wrong and has been honest about it from the start, Mr Iqbal concluded.
The magistrates sentenced Land to a 12-month community order, during which she must complete 80 hours of unpaid work.
She was banned from driving for 26 months, which would be reduced by six months if she completes a drink-driving course by a set date.
Land was also ordered to pay a total of £199 to the court.
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