Northumberland Mum caught drink-driving for third time after …

A mum was caught drink-driving for the third time in nine years after she crashed into a car in Northumberland^[1].

Marianne Forster proved she failed to learn her lesson when she got behind the wheel of her Vauxhall Corsa while intoxicated, despite having two past convictions for driving with excess alcohol. A court^[2] heard that police were called to Holywell Dene Road, in Holywell, Northumberland^[3] after reports that the 39-year-old had ploughed into another car.

On arrival, they found Forster inside a house on the street and two damaged vehicles nearby. She immediately admitted to being the driver of one of the cars and to having consumed booze. She was arrested after failing a roadside breath test.

Forster, of Woodside Avenue, in Seaton Delaval^[5], is now facing a lengthy ban after she pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. Rehana Haque, prosecuting at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court, said police were called to Holywell Dene Road on July 3 this year after reports of a collision.

Ms Haque added: "Officers saw two damaged vehicles and spoke to the owner of one, who told them that the driver of the other was inside an address on the road. They spoke with the driver, this defendant, and she said she had been the driver at the time and she had been drinking alcohol."

The court heard that Forster had two previous convictions for drink-driving from 2014 and 2015, so faced a mandatory three-year driving ban. Paul Dunn, defending, said there had been a problem with the car, which had caused Forster to crash.

Mr Dunn added: "She's a working single parent. On the day in question, she was driving the short distance from her house to her brother's house. There was a problem with the vehicle itself. It's since been looked at and there was a problem with the vehicle, which led to the collision."

Magistrates decided that they needed a pre-sentence report and adjourned the case until August 8. Releasing Forster on unconditional bail but giving her an interim driving ban, chair of the bench, Keith McIntosh, said: "What makes this offences more serious is your two previous convictions for exactly the same offence."

References

1. ^{^} Northumberland (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
2. ^{^} court (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Northumberland (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Jesmond school's former headmistress fraudulently claimed John Lewis vouchers on expenses (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
5. ^{^} Seaton Delaval (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)