A Newtown drink driver who couldn’t get a taxi after a family party says she “stupidly” tried to drive home - and nearly caused a crash while driving on the wrong side of the road.
Jessica Bowe, 36, who is now banned from driving for 20 months, told police “I know I shouldn’t have but I did” when she was pulled over in New Road during the early hours of Sunday, January 22.
The supermarket worker, of Lon Glanyrafon, Newtown, was ordered to complete a six-month community order and pay almost £350 after pleading guilty to drink driving at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on February 28.
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Helen Tench, prosecuting, told the court that police saw a vehicle on the wrong side of the road and swerved to avoid a collision at around 1.45am.
Officers, who were concerned about the way Bowe was driving, asked if she had been drinking alcohol. Bowe replied: “I know I shouldn’t have but I did.”
Bowe took a breath test which revealed that she had 82 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the limit is 35mcgs.
Robert Hanratty, defending, said: “She is clearly a lady not used to coming to court. She had been out with family and friend and made the rather naïve decision to drive. She very much regrets this appearance.”
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A pre-sentence report read to the magistrates by probation officer Julian Davies stated that Bowe, a self-described weekend drinker with no previous convictions, told him that she does not drink alcohol to excess.
Mr Davies said Bowe had been at a family party that ended abruptly, and her partner took a taxi home, but she went with friends to Newtown.
The court heard that Bowe couldn’t get a taxi and started walking home when she came across her car. Mr Davies said Bowe told him she “stupidly drove” and regretted her “stupid behaviour”.
As well as the ban, Bowe was also ordered to pay a £150 fine, £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
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