Drink driver's BMW crashed into roadside ditch in Carlisle

At the city’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court, 37-year-old restaurant manager Jenna Flanagan pleaded guilty to the offence – the first time she had ever been before the court for wrongdoing.

Prosecutor Pam Ward said it happened at 10.35am on Saturday, June 4, last year after the defendant’s BMW 1 series car crashed beside Lowry Street, Upperby.

Police were called to the scene after the accident was reported and officers arrived to find the car in the roadside ditch, with the engine still running and the defendant sitting in the driving seat.

The prosecutor said: “Miss Flanagan was asked to step out of the car and the officers immediately noticed a smell of intoxicants; and in car’s central console there was a bottle of dark fruits cider.

“There was a male passenger in the passenger seat and he was holding a box of wine.” Flanagan cooperated with the police but her roadside breath test produced a positive result.

A second  test later confirmed that she had 97mcg of alcohol in every 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Andrew Gurney, defending, said Flanagan was a single mum and a person of previous good character. “She’s in full-time employment as a restaurant manager, working Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm,” said the lawyer.

“She was out drinking with her partner until the late evening and drinking until 2am. She started driving at 10am, having misjudged the amount of alcohol that was in her system.”

The cider in the centre of the car belonged to her partner and Flanagan had not in fact had any alcohol since 2am, said the lawyer.

After hearing the details, magistrate imposed a 25-month ban on the defendant, who gave her address as Overtown, Wishaw. She must also complete 80 hours of unpaid work as part of a one-year community order.

Magistrates ruled that she must pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

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