A NORTH Cumbrian woman caught drink driving after she was involved in a minor accident has been given a 26-month ban.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates Court, Charlotte Irving, 28, admitted the offence, committed as she drove her Vauxhall Vivaro on the A596 at Waverton on July 15.

Prosecutor George Shelley outlined how the offence came to light after the defendant was involved in a minor accident and the other driver called the police.

When officers administered a breath-test, it confirmed the defendant’s alcohol breath reading was 115mcg in 100mls of breath.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

Defence lawyer Mark Shepherd told the court that Irving was working as an industrial cleaner during the pandemic and at the time was covering four people's jobs.

On the day of the offence, she suffered an anxiety attack and as a result drank a bottle of wine before deciding foolishly to drive.

She was also mourning the death of her grandfather, said Mr Shepherd. As a result of the offence, she had lost her job.

As he passed sentence, presiding magistrate Paul Bird noted the high breath-alcohol reading but he accepted the mitigation offered by Mr Shepherd.

“Everything we have heard today leads us to believe that this was a one-off lack of judgement,” Mr Bird told the defendant, of Longthwaite Road, Wigton.

But that misjudgement, said Mr Bird, would have extreme consequences for the defendant.

Mr Bird continued: “You should remember that although they are extreme consequences, it could have been worse. Someone could have died, in which case you would have been in a different court.”

Her not remembering what happened that day made the case more serious. But Mr Bird noted the defendant, a woman of previous good character, had done voluntary work for charity in her community.

As well as the ban, he imposed an eight-week electronically monitored curfew, with £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge. Irving was offered the drink driver rehabilitation course, which if completed in time will reduce the ban.