Yahoo News Drink-driving mum avoiding the rain caught on her 40th birthday
Shamed mum Tina Howle was caught drink-driving on her 40th birthday. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Howle, who works at Bradwell Working Men's Club, was driving a friend home from the club when she was stopped by police.
She gave a positive roadside sample and was taken to custody where she was breathalysed and gave a reading of 70 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, twice the legal limit of 35. Now Howle has been banned from driving for 19 months.
Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said police were called just after midnight on October 16 to reports of a woman drinking at Bradwell Working Men's Club. Miss Swindail said: "The caller believed it was her intention to drive home. Her details were passed to the police.
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"A black Mazda was seen parked at the club and at 12.30am it was seen to pull out of the club car park and drive on to Bradwell Lane in the opposite direction of the A34.
"When stopped by police she gave her keys to the officer. She provided a positive roadside breath test. She was not insured to drive and she did not have a full driving licence. She was taken to custody where she was breathalysed and gave a reading of 70 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35."
Howle, of Holly Road, Crackley, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.
Paul Kay, mitigating, said Howle, who is also a passenger assistant for children with special needs, told officers: 'I am driving with no insurance and no licence. I should know better. It is my step dad's car. I will be open and honest. I have had a few too many tonight."
Mr Kay said: "The day before her 40th birthday she had some drinks. The vehicle is her partners as much as her step-fathers.
"Bizarrely, because it was raining she decided to give a friend a lift just around the corner. The shame and embarrassment has weighed heavily on her."
Magistrates fined Howle £440 and ordered her to pay £85 costs and a £176 surcharge. Her ban will be reduced by 19 weeks if she completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course.
