A PENRITH woman whose car crashed through a hedge and partially into a field was just over twice the drink drive limit.

A police breath test later confirmed that 57-year-old Diane Black-Ware was just over twice the drink drive limit when the crashed in her Ford Fiesta on the afternoon of August 12.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, she pleaded guilty to the offence. It was the third time she had been convicted of drink driving, the court heard.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said the offence was discovered after the accident, which happened at 4.25pm as Black-Ware was driving on the B6421, a country road that connects Great Salkeld to Langwathby.

Her Ford Fiesta collided with the roadside hedge and her car came to rest in a field. When police arrived, she told the officers she had swerved to avoid a BMW which was on the wrong side of the road.

“She was initially taken to The Cumberland Infirmary after expressing that she would self-harm,” said Mrs Ward. A breath test showed she had 71mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath.

The legal limit for driving is 35mcg. The defendant was first convicted of  drink driving in  February, 2016, and then again in 2018.

Steven Marsh, defending, said there was a “significant mental health” background to the defendant’s offence.

Since her last drink driving offence in 2018, she had maintained her sobriety but on the day of the offence she had received “upsetting news” about her father, for whom she is a carer.

The defendant had used alcohol as a way of coping. She had managed to get to work that day but was unable to do anything and so had decided to drive back to Penrith.

Black-Ware, of Juniper Way, Penrith, maintained that the accident happened because the car coming in the opposite direction had been on her side of the road and she had to take evasive action.

“She believes the accident was caused by the bad driving of the other vehicle,” continued Mr Marsh. “But she accepts the alcohol will have had a part to play.”

Magistrates imposed as 12-month community order which includes a 90-day alcohol treatment requirement and 15 days of rehabilitation activity. She was also fined £40 and given a 40-month ban.

Black-Ware must pay £40 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.