Drink-driver found with vodka bottles

ALCOHOLIC Sharon Hague was more than four times over the drink-drive limit when she drove a campervan to her ex-husband's house.

Police found two half-empty bottles of vodka inside her vehicle after she failed a roadside breath test.

The 49-year-old, pictured left, avoided a prison sentence at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to drink driving.

But Hague, who wept throughout yesterday's hearing, was banned from driving for three years.

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She was also ordered to attend a drink-impaired driving course as part of an 18-month community order.

Prosecutor Lisa Newman told the court that a police officer was called to an address in Victoria Street, Silverdale, on February 26.

He noticed that Hague was unsteady on her feet and could smell alcohol on her breath.

Ms Newman said: "The police officer noticed a campervan which was parked erratically across the road.

"He came to the conclusion that the defendant had driven it, and asked for a roadside breath test, which she failed.

"The door to the van was open, and the officer saw a bag on the seat.

"Under the bag were two bottles of Glen's vodka, which were half-full."

Hague was arrested and a second breath test showed she had 146 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Hague later told police she had drunk the vodka to "cheer herself up", and had subsequently decided she had to speak to her ex-husband.

Hague, of Victoria Street, Silverdale, was surprised to be so far above the drink-drive limit, as she had felt safe to drive.

Rachel Mason, mitigating, said Hague had never been in trouble before.

She said: "She accepts she had a problem and needs some help. She accepts she is an alcoholic, who needs to undergo a full detoxification programme. She is going through a divorce and foolishly drove to her ex-husband's house.

"She knows she should have walked. In her own words she was 'stupid, irrational and lazy'.

"She is trying to address her alcohol problems. But she is very stressed, and when she's stressed, she drinks more."

Magistrates agreed not to jail Hague, but warned the defendant that she could face prison if she drove while banned.