A CARER was found drunk and covered in her own sick while looking after a disabled client who is unable to do anything for himself.

Shannon Emmerson, 25, had driven to work while under the influence of alcohol to care for the male, who has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair.

The defendant’s former employer Jemcare, a care agency based in Flimby, has since said it does not accept such behaviour and praised other staff members for acting quickly to ensure their client’s safety.

Outlining the case at Workington Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Pamela Fee said a manager had received a call on October 4 from Emmerson’s colleague, who said the defendant was drunk at work.

She had been looking after a disabled male who requires one-to-one care at home. Emmerson was on the living room sofa. She was ‘very drunk’ and covered in her own sick.

A colleague rang her manager to alert her to the ‘urgent situation’ and an ambulance was contacted.

The defendant was sitting with her shoes on but they were on the wrong feet. A member of staff took her car keys from her and tried to phone for a taxi but ‘they weren’t interested’ because Emmerson had been sick. The defendant started walking.

Staff believed that Emmerson had driven to work while under the influence. Police arrived and she was breathalysed at the scene. She gave a reading of 69mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit to drive is 35mcg.

Emmerson was taken to the police station, where she gave a reading of 66mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

During police interview, the defendant said she had travelled from Maryport to her place of work in Dearham. She said she wasn’t sure when she had last drunk alcohol.

She said she had drunk three cans of Stella and then went out for some wine. She then drove to work.

When asked why she had been drinking, Emmerson said she was ‘stressed’ because a family member had been rushed to hospital.

John Cooper, defending, said: “Clearly, she shouldn’t have drunk. She should have phoned in and said she wasn’t going to work. She clearly wasn’t in the right state.

“There’s nothing about the standard of driving. There are issues with her turning up to work in the state that she is in.

“She has no previous convictions. She has lost her job so is on benefits at the moment.”

Emmerson pleaded guilty to driving with alcohol level above the limit and using a vehicle on a road without third party insurance.

Speaking after the hearing, Kayleigh McCrickerd, registered manager at Jemcare, said: “We take any matters of safeguarding really seriously. We are disappointed by her conduct.

“It was down to the quick-thinking staff who we were able to act quickly and make sure everyone was safe.

“It was our staff who were suspicious of it and got the police straightaway. We don’t accept anything like that. Our service users are our number one priority.”

Ms McCrickerd added that a referral had been made to the Protection of Vulnerable Adults register.

Emmerson, of Ada Street, Maryport, sobbed as she was sentenced by magistrates. She was banned from driving for 17 months, to be reduced by 17 weeks, if she completes the drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course.

She was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

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