A DRINK-driver was seen staggering and then getting behind the wheel as she visited Bargain Booze to buy more wine.

Sarah Carrie, 51, had been grieving the death of her father 18 months before an incident which landed her in the dock.

It was October 30, at around 7.30pm, when police were alerted by a member of the public in Penrith town centre.

“They reported a female who was staggering all over the place, getting into a vehicle and driving off,” Diane Jackson, prosecuting, told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.

Police went to Carrie’s Winters Park home in Penrith where she confirmed she had driven an MG ZS vehicle at King Street.

“I drove down to Bargain Booze and I’m now over the limit,” Carrie had said.

Carrie failed a breath test and was taken to custody. An evidential specimen showed she was just over three times the legal drink-drive limit.

“She admitted to drinking about one-and-a-half bottles of wine and then leaving the house to buy another bottle,” said Mrs Jackson. “She then parked the vehicle up and then went into her house.”

Carrie admitted drink-driving in court.

Defence solicitor Kate Hunter, mitigating, told how Carrie’s grief following her father’s death seemed to have built up and been a catalyst for the offence.

Carrie was employed as a shop assistant and team leader for four years. “To all intents and purposes she is a perfectly decent person. It is just this grief element that appears to have crept up on her,” said Ms Hunter.

“There was no bad driving. She is thankful for that.”

Carrie told a district judge she had voluntarily sought help for personal issues and was receiving support.

She was fined £600 as part of a total £925 court bill. A two-year driving ban was imposed by the district judge. This will be reduced by 24 weeks if Carrie successfully completes a rehabilitation course she was offered.

Carried had taken a similar course following a drink-drive conviction which dated back to 2012.

“I think you would benefit from that again,” said judge John Temperley of the course. “I think members of the public would benefit from you taking that again.”