A CARE home worker seen driving “erratically” and crossing white lines after a night out with friends was arrested for drink driving.

Ysobelle Webster, 20, had been out with friends in Builth Wells on February 26 this year. She had waited an hour-and-a-half after her last drink to get behind the wheel and had felt fit to drive, Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court heard last week, but when stopped by police on her way home she was found to be over the legal limit.

Webster, of Abbey Mill, Abbeycwmhir, near Llandrindod Wells, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, March 16, to drink driving.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said Webster was stopped by PC Mark Jones driving a VW Polo on the A483 near Howey at around 3am.

“The officer noticed the driver was travelling in excess of the speed limit, at about 70mph, and was driving erratically and crossing white lines,” said Mr Davies.

“In Howey he stopped the vehicle and noticed the driver smelt of intoxicants. She provided a positive roadside breath test and was arrested.”

Mr Davies said Webster, who has no previous convictions, provided a reading of 45 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Gareth Walters, acting for the defendant, said: “It is always sad to see someone lose their previous clean character, especially in such foolish circumstances.

“She had been drinking with friends in Builth, she left it an hour-and-a-half to drive, she thought it would be sufficient time, but it clearly wasn’t. She doesn’t dispute any facts, she accepts the case.

“She thought she was safe to drive and she wasn’t. She isn’t the first and she won’t be the last.”

Mr Walters said Webster was employed in a care home and would now have to rely on her father to give her lifts to work. “There are no factors that would give the court any concern, hopefully she can put this matter behind her,” he added.

Webster was banned from driving for 14 months but she can reduce this by a quarter if she completes a drink drive awareness course. Magistrates also fined her £250, while she must also pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.