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07
Mar
Harrogate woman admits being more than three times over drink-drive limit
A woman admitted to being more than three times the drink-drive limit while driving in Harrogate.
Sarah Walsh, of Fairfax Avenue, pleaded guilty to three offences at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (March 6). The charges included drink-driving, driving without insurance and driving a car otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police officers were called to a collision on Harrogate's Newhnam Terrace on the afternoon of February 14 this year.
The court heard officers arrived at the scene and saw a car had collided with two other vehicles.
A woman approached the police and told them the car was her hire car, but that her friend had been driving it at the time of the incident.
Ms Ibbotson said Walsh had a “cut on her nose” when police went over to her. When officers asked if she had been driving the car, the defendant said:
Obviously, it was me.
Walsh was arrested and taken into custody, where she recorded 126 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is just 35 micrograms.
The court heard Walsh told officers she was driving without insurance and only held a provisional driving licence when she was interviewed.
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court Walsh struggles with her mental health following a previous relationship.
The 41-year-old defendant suffers with anxiety and “a degree of agoraphobia”, Mr Tinning said, adding she “seldom goes out”.
The court heard Walsh’s friend thought it would be good to get the defendant out of the house, and she asked Walsh to go out with her.
Mr Tinning told the court Walsh struggles with binge drinking.
The court heard she had been drinking wine the night before the incident and wine was found in the car following the collision.
Mr Tinning said Walsh “decided to have more to drink” when her friend went into an appointment, adding:
She does not know if it was the alcohol or her mental health, but Ms Walsh felt she should flee the scene.
The court heard Walsh then got in the car and drove, before the collision occurred "across the road".
Mr Tinning acknowledged she blew a “very high reading” of alcohol.
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. Walsh will return to court on April 11.
She was disqualified from driving in the interim.
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