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14
Apr
Harrogate woman who crashed when more than three times drink-drive limit avoids jail
A Harrogate woman who crashed a car when she was more than three times the drink-drive limit was sentenced on Friday (April 11).
Sarah Walsh, of Fairfax Avenue, pleaded guilty to one count of drink-driving, one count of driving without insurance and one count of driving without a licence on March 6.
Her case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and she returned to court for sentencing on Friday.
The report was not read aloud during the hearing.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were called after a car had collided with a parked car on Newnham Terrace in Harrogate on February 14.
When police arrived at the scene, a woman – not the defendant – told them the car that had crashed into the parked vehicle was her hire car.
The woman had received a message to say her friend had crashed the hire car, the court heard.
Ms Ibbotson said police approached the vehicle and saw Walsh, who was sitting inside, had a cut on her nose.
Officers could smell alcohol on Walsh and she told them she had been driving at the time of the crash.
The 41-year-old defendant was arrested. In custody, a breath sample recorded 126 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the limit being 35 micrograms.
Walsh also told police officers she had driven the car without a driving licence and without any insurance.
“She could not recall what alcohol she had drunk before the collision”, Ms Ibbotson said.
'It all went horribly wrong'
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the magistrates the case was “quite a bizarre incident”.
He said Marsh’s friend wanted to get the defendant out of her house at the time, as she had not been leaving her home, but it “all went horribly wrong”.
The court heard:
Ms Walsh consumed alcohol and panicked, thinking she suddenly needed to get home. She jumped into the driver’s seat and collided with the parked car.
The hire car had keyless entry, so Marsh was able to start the car by pressing a button. The court was told previously that the collision happened "across the road".
The defendant “bitterly regrets what she did”, Mr Tinning said, but added it is clear “she was not thinking straight”.
Marsh has since taken steps to help her, including seeking support from a mental health worker.
Mr Tinning added:
Cars have been damaged but she knows it could have been much worse.
Walsh was sentenced to eight weeks in custody, which was suspended for 12 months.
She must complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.
Walsh was banned from driving for 36 months and ordered to pay a total of £359 to the court.
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