Drink-driver is banned for a year

A single mum was caught over the drink drive limit after hitting a bollard on a road with speed bumps, a court heard.
Burnley Magistrates Court.Burnley Magistrates Court.
Burnley Magistrates Court.

Burnley magistrates were told 24-year-old Samantha Leigh Kettlewell, collided with a garden wall at 3am and gave a positive roadside breath test.

Kettlewell, who had “abandoned” her Nissan Juke in the middle of the road round the corner, later blew 41 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.

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The defendant told the police the car had “bounced” over the wall, she was extremely sorry and genuinely didn’t believe she would be over the limit.

Kettlewell, of Walton Street, Barrowford, admitted driving with excess alcohol on Daneshouse Road, Burnley, on May 3rd.

She was fined £120, with a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs and was banned from driving for 12 months. The defendant had no previous convictions.

Nick Dearing, defending Kettlewell, said on any version she had consumed a modest amount of alcohol several hours previously and did not think she would be over the limit.

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She drove to a nearby road and remained with the vehicle until the police turned up.

At the time of the offence, she had a job in sales, but had now lost that. The solicitor continued: “This is a young lady who has always worked and not relied on benefits.”

Bench chairman John James told the defendant: “We always say to people there is one easy answer. Just never drink and drive.”

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